The Phonogram, Vol. 1:3 (1891-03)

5 » ( •* • • THE PHONOGRAM. . tnadc ihc phonograph popular and aitraciivc lo the masses is a natural sequence and to a certain extent not without its advantages. They have familiarized the public with the possibilities of the phonograph and paved the way to its legitimate use; not as the mechanic who transcribes written speech, but the confidential companion who rc- . ccives and retains thought—the secrets, if need be, intended for no human cars save their own or those of closest friends. 'This superior function of the phonograph, therefore, is tliat which is destined ultimately to give it a preponderating influence among all the mechanisms thus far invented for economizing human labor in the library, counting-room and study. Any other use, however attractive or profitable, is sul>ordinatc to this essential attri- . bute. Aftcf a while the importance of this view will be realized, and those who have condemned us for urging the only true policy to be pursued in in- troducing the phonograph into general use will discover their error and begin to make up for lost time, ami, possibly, money. The single aim of every one interested in this remarkable instru- ment should be to develop its largest capacity in the sphere it occupies, ami to do this it wHl be necessary to break away from present lines of op- eration. First, schools of instruction may be profitid’iv opened; when thepupils arc trained furnish them and the phonograph together. Secondly, wher- ever it is possible to do so the phonograph shoidd be soldpleased property is rarely cared for. HA typewriters licen rented in the beginning of tlirlr career, it is safe to say that ninety out of a hiH^ dred would have been returned as unsatisfactory. and nothing like their existing popularity would have l»een attained. And finally, every agent ami company engaged in the business of introducing the phonograph should rcmcmlicr that in advo- cating its claims, the highest and noblest uses of which it is capable should lie demonstrated as par- amount to any mere pleasure it may afford by rea- son of its wonderful adaptability to individual or s«M-ia! entertainment. V. H. McRae. • ♦ ♦ .The Divisibility of Electric Power. With the passagc*ot time, evidences of the utility of electricity as a factor in the world's work arc continually increasing. Upon its ap- pearance in the field of distinctive forces, to which the genius of Hilbert ami Franklin had coaxed it. the single idea prevailing in the minds of those men was to prevent it from indicting injury. In after years it became what may be called a medical agent, being resorted to by physicians to restore circulation in the human body, to quicken impaired vitality, and perform various important functions. Advancing next to the part of a trans- mitter of thought and a recorder of the same, and still pressing onward in the path of progress, it became successively A torch-bearer to the world, and a universal motive power. Steam, light, heat, certain gases, and chemicals arc valuable agencies within a definite compass, but electricity surpasses alfThese in the extent of its sphere, as gold ranks above all other metals in valuable qualities. - Occupying this position, electricity is attracting in a marked degree the attention of the multitude. Electricity on Public Highways. 0 Vali abi.k instructions conveyed in a clear and pleasing shape to the New York State Bar Asso- ciation on the occasion of their recent meeting at Albany, X. Y., through an address delivered to them by the lion. Johtf S. Wise, of the New York liar, is now placed at the disposition of the gen- eral public in a pamphlet containing a printed copy of his remarks upon electricity. Alluding to the rights of corporations on public highways, he is led to explain and relate the prop- erties, laws, ami phenomena of electricity, and states that. " About 1S3S, Steinheil and Morse simultaneously discovered that the earth would supply a return conductor for all generated cle» - tricity; that is to say. that conducting the positive current upon wire to any distance from the gene- rator. ami connecting the negative pole of the generator to the earth, the circuit could be estab- lished by inserting the end of the positive wire into the earth, even at great distances from the generator. The surface of the earth is filled with electrical conductors. So great is its conductivity that electricians frequently refer to the * infinite conductivity * of the earth. The first inventions in telegraphing had used wire for the return as well as the outgoing current. Whenever currents arc thus conducted throughout their entire course upon wires, they arc known as complete metallic circuits. Where the wire is used only for the out- going current, ami the circuit is completed bo- using the earth, the circuit is known as a ground circuit. I shall have occasions to refer again lo this matter of grounded and metallic circuits. Speaking of the currents on the rails of electric street-cars h* dcscrilics their movements thus: •• The infinite conductivity of the earth is such that the electric street-car current, when it passes i