ELECTRICAL POWER
Since the beginning of the present century,
all branches of science have received almost mi
raculous additions to what was heretofore very
imperfect knowledge. In the light of the pres
ent we regard the records of scientific investiga
tion and research of the previous centuries as
having passed into history, and as such are mere
curiosities when examined to-clay, Yet we can
not help acknowledging• that these rudimentary
results were necessary in leading up to and form
ing the exalted position which science as a whole
now holds.
While this great tree of science has branched
and grown rapidly and is now blooming profusely
in all its parts, still shooting out beyond the rest,
we see the swelling bud of electrical science just
opening.
The signs of the times indicate that greater
progress in electrical wonders, by research and
invention, will be made in the coming decade
than we have already seen. Every day makes the
field of investigation in electricity broader, and
its results more and more valuable, extending its
application and usefulness to nearly all classes and
kinds of mechanical constructions and operations.
In the advent of the many kinds of electric mo
tors there has come to the industrial and manu
facturing interests of the world most 'simple and
effective mechanisms by which energy is trans
mitted and transformed in a reliable and econom
ical manner for useful work. The points of ex
cellence and superiority in which electrical power
surpasses all others are numerous. It is adapted
to all classes of work. It is equally serviceable
in the parlors of the dentist, or in turning the
lathes in the shops of the machinist. Nor is it
less effective and convenient in its application to
the printing press, the hoists and elevators of the
warehouse and dock, the shafting of the mill, the
street . railroad service, the heavy underground
work of the mine and the tunnel, or annihilating
distances and bringing heretofore ipaccessible
THE FR
E LANCE.
sources of natural
.energy to points where they
can be made easily and economically available.
The importance of this new condition of
affairs is hardly yet recognized, but it cannot be
denied. Even to-day the electric light station is
becoming the great public reservoir of power,
from whose circuits, all engaged in manufacture
and thousands who need power for various minor
services, can draw supplies at will. In a very
short time the consumption of current for electric
power will equal, if not exceed, the consumption
for light, and it is to this new idea that the manu
facturers of electrie light machinery and the pub
lic generally are adjusting their methods,
• By means of simple electrical apparatus un
told results will be accomplished with reasonable
economy, and it must be conceded that the me
chanical methods of the entire world will be rev
olutionized thereby, and that another of those
grand steps of progress will be taken of which the
nineteenth century so justly boasts. J, w. R.
Once more has the much longed for Spring
term been ushered in at Princeton, and with it
will come many a conflict in the college man's
breast between pleasure and duty, work and
amusement. The one absorbing topic of intereit
at Princeton is, of course, base ball, and various
are the speculations made concerning our chances
for the championship. The nine returned from
its annual spring trip on Thursday evening, and
although it was sat upon quite badly, metaphysi
cally speaking, by Washington, Baltimore and
New York, this was expected, and the college
has no fault to find with the members of the
team. A very marked improvement was
seen in batting, which perhaps has gone a good
way in excusing field errors. We play Staten Is
land this afternoon, and an interesting contest is
looked forward to.
I==l
LETTER BOX.
PRINCETON, April 20, 1888
Track athletics are in a very promising con-