THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN LONDON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5599, 4 February 1879, Page 7

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN LONDON.

(From the Timet, Nov, 26.) Last evening an experiment in electric lighting was made in Billingsgate Market under the auspices of the Markets* Committee of the corporation of London. An unfortunate accident had delayed the trial hitherto, but the experiment yesterday was effected under as perfect conditions as could be desired, so far as the machinery was concerned. As the new fish market at Billingsgate presented a very favourable area for the introduction, if possible, of the electric light, the Markets* Committee recently sent a deputation of their number to Paris to report upon the efficacy of lighting by electricity in the streets and public places of that city. The result of their visit was the recommendation that an experiment should be made at Billingsgate, and arrangements were accordingly entered into with the Societe Generate de I’Eleetricite, of Paris, to supply the Gramme machine and the Jablochkoff system of lighting. The carbons, or candles, are formed of two cylindrical pieces of compressed coke, between which a small column of plaster of Paris is inserted, and a thin bar of the like carbon is placed on the top of the three substances, thereby connecting the two outer columns. These candles thus constructed are about nine inches high, half an inch wide, by threesixteenths of an inch thick, and are fixed on two small brass tubes, so that when placed in position in the lamp they are brought in direct contact with tbe electric wires, which are conducted from the machine in which the electricity has been generated; each lamp has four of these candles, and each candle is estimated to burn an hour and a half, when by the action of a switch a fresh candle is brought into action, and that again as the rad of an hour and a half is replaced by another, so that the whole four candles are calculated toburn six hours, or perhaps a little more. Up to the present this change of candles has to be effected by an attendant periodically moving the switch, but doubtless this slight drawback to the Jablochkoff system may be overcome by some automatic process of changing the candles. The engine for driving the Gramme machines was one of locomotive power furnished by Messrs Eobey, of Lincoln, and of 26-horse power. The lights, which were protected by opal lamps of globular form, were 16 in number, of which nine were on the ground floor of the market, two projecting into Thames street, two ea the nver frontage, where cargoes are delivered, and ■ the remaining

three lights in other parts of the market. Each light was said to be of 1000-candle' power, and all the 16 lights were placed on four circuits of four lights each, any circuit of the four being lighted or not at pleasure. The work was oarriea out under the direction of the Markets’ Committee, of which Mr Rudkin is chairman. The experiment yesterday was conducted in the presence of a great many members of the Corporation, of the salesmen of Billingsgate market, of the police authorities, and many more. The result was, as a whole, somewhat disappointing. The two lights on the river frontage, though, very uncertain and shaky, afforded a great improvement upon the wretched and dangerous oil or gas lamps, by the gloomy light of which cargoes have to be laden and discharged and passengers embark or alight. The same observation applies to the outer streetlighting. Upper Thames street has hardly ever, or never, been so well lit as it was last night with the aid of the two electric globular lights in front of the market. Inside the market itself the nine electric lights, though brilliant in themselves, failed to afford that intensity of illumination which the ordinary gas jets provided. Many Billingsgate salesmen last night, conducting a friendly auction, failed to observe the difference between herrings and mackerel, and a leading member of the fish trade and the Common Council went so far astosay that with gas to help him and giving his rivals the electric light, he pledged himself to get an extra profit of 2d in the pound weight. The Markets’ Committee in their experiment were as fair as could be. Having tried the light within the globes they saw the light by itself, and then the old gas jets and lamps. The general conclusion seemed to be that for the riverside and.the street lighting the experiment had admirably succeeded, but that for the interior of the market the light, though soft and agreeable, was not so strong as to supersede at present the ordinary lighting apparatus. The question of cost will be considered hereafter by the Committee.