LIGHTING STREETS BY ELECTRICITY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3118, 8 February 1871, Page 3

LIGHTING STREETS BY ELECTRICITY.

The " New York Tribune" has the following: — Many who have visited the Capitol at Washington within the last few years, have witnessed with admiration the working of Gardiner's apparatus for lighting its gas-jets by elceiricity. In this apparatus, small spirals of platinum are attached to lava-tipped gas burners, and connected with powerful galvanic batteries. A current oF dynamic electricity is established, which, in passing over the spirals, heats them to a dull red, and thus ignites the gas. The platinum spirals are placed immediately over the gas-jets, insuring ignition while during the burning ,of the gas they are within the cooler and dooxodising part of the flame, which insures their durability for a long time. The apparatus has been used with perfect success in the Capitol, and also in Mr Stewart's store and private residence in this city, lighting several thousand burners without once failing, and with great economy. It has cost the Government nothing whatever for repairs to gas-burners at, the Capitol since t ! ie adoption of this improvement. Some capitalists are now forming a company with the view of securing the adoption of the improvement for city purposes. They propose the laying a system of street wires underground, which shall provide a supply of electrical force everywhere. It is as easy to

sap a main of electricity as it is to tap a main of water or of gas. In their programme they contemplate the application of electricity to the lighting of the public lamps, and by the same means turning on and off the gas ; and the operation of a fire alarm telegraph upon the same wires, so as to do away with the unsightly poles and other inconveniences of the present system. Even if the gaslight be extinguished, it will instantly re-ignite by the action of the current of electricity constantly operating. Among other considerations of utility, such as the actual saving of gas and the avoidance of the use of matches is urged the practicability of combining with this a system of burglar alarms for use in public and private buildings.