CENTRAL-STATION
ELECTRIC LIGHTING
WITH
NOTES ON THE METHODS USED FOR THE
DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICITY.
BY
KILLINGWORTH HEDGES,
MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, AND OF
THE SOCIETY OF TELEGRAPH ENGINEERS AND ELECTRICIANS.
LONDON:
E. & F. N. SPON, 125, STRAND.
NEW YORK: 12, CORTLANDT STREET.
[All rights reserved.]
PREFACE.
The art of lighting by Electricity practically dates from ten yearsago, and it has during that period received the constant attention ofboth Electrical Engineers and others, who have applied the greatestscientific knowledge. The result of all this energy appears to bediscouraging. Five hundred thousand pounds have been subscribed tocarry on the business, and it is doubtful whether the companies whichsurvive have a market value of one-tenth of that sum. The experiencemay have been bought too dearly, but the era of Central-StationElectric Lighting, which has now commenced, ought to re-establish theposition of Electricity in financial circles, and afford a safe andprofitable outlet for the surplus capital of the investor who buys gasand water shares to pay four per cent.
The distribution of electricity from a central-station, which was thesubject of Sir William Siemen’s Presidential Address at the Society ofArts in 1882, is not only accomplished from the scientific point ofview, but is also a commercial success: the power of flowing water, or[Pg vi]the potential energy stored up in coal, wood, or other fuel, can beutilised for lighting our streets and houses at night, and during theday may be transmitted by means of electricity in the easiest possibleway, and supplant the gas-engine for driving small machinery.
A paper entitled “Central-Station Electric Lighting” was contributed bythe Author to the Institution of Civil Engineers, and was published inPart II. of the Minutes, 1886-87; the subject-matter has been extendedand brought up to date, with the object of giving a description of thesystems which are practically employed in Central-Station Lighting athome and on the Continent. Details respecting the generating plant atthese stations are omitted on purpose; technical terms would also beavoided if possible; failing this, it is hoped that the accompanyingGlossary will explain what is unfamiliar.
The amendment of the Electric Lighting Act of 1882 has given a freshstimulus to the industry, and many new enterprises for distributingelectricity from Central-Stations are being prepared, and it is tobe hoped that the public will profit by former experience, and willdiscriminate between the good and the bad schemes which will be offeredto them.
The organizing facilities possessed by Gas Companies make it desirablethat they should follow the example of the American Companies, andtake up the business of supplying electricity. The existing powers of[Pg vii]private companies might have to be altered, but those municipalauthorities who own the gasworks could certainly distribute electricityfrom a central-station, which mig