THE SCHUCKERT SEARCH LIGHT AT SANDY HOOK.

THE great Schuckert search light, which was stationed on top of the Liberal Arts Building at the World's Fair, has now been mounted by Mr. F. Tischendoerfer on a 100-foot tower at Sandy Hook, where the searching power of its beam is attracting much attention among mariners.

extends entirely through the plug making a double contact with its corresponding metal surface within the cut-out block. The cut-out block is a sufficiently heavy piece of porcelain to insure it against breakage in case the transformer should suffer from rough handling.

Divided by a thick porcelain wall two compartments are seen at either end of the block, Fig. 3; in these is made the contact

NEW YORK NOTES.

GEO. L. COLGATE COMPANY, manufacturers, 186 Liberty street, have bought from Mr. W. A. Vail all right, title and interest in the well-known "Swinging Ball Lightning Arrester," which is now in actual use by 1,000 central stations. It has been greatly improved and cheapened in price, though not in quality, and has a remarkable record as a line saver and property protector. The Colgate Co. will be glad to correspond with central station managers in regard to this or any other supplies.

PROF. E. P. ROBERTS, of Cleveland, accompanied by Mr. Wilson, was a visitor to New York last week. He informs us that the correspondence school in engineering that he presides over is most successful and growing daily. The engineering firm of E. P. Roberts & Co. has taken into partnership Mr. W. B. Stewart, who has had 29 years' practical experience in steam engineering and general machinery, and eight in electric lighting and railroad work. In the consultation line the firm have recently had entrusted to them the preliminary estimates for a 30-mile electric road and the designs for a 15-ton elevator, etc. The firm's headquarters are in the Brainard block, Cleveland.

A NEW PACKARD CONVERTER CUT-OUT. THE PACKARD ELECTRIC COMPANY have recently designed and placed on the market in connection with their Packard transformer a new transformer cut-out which cannot fail to be of interest to every person at all interested in alternating current work.

The difficulty in securing a desirable transformer cut-out has been to make it perfectly safe and convenient to handle and at the same time secure an absolute and sufficient electrical contact and a suitable system of fusing the removable part of the cut-out.

That the Packard Company have succeeded in securing the desired results is very clearly set forth in the accompanying cuts. The engraving Fig. 1 shows the manner in which the fuse plugs project from the front of the case so that they can be easily withdrawn or replaced. Protection is afforded by a hinged cap which entirely covers and conceals the porcelain handle. Thus the

FIG. 1.-A NEW PACKARD CONVERTER CUT-OUT

transformer can be cut out of circuit and a burnt-out fuse replaced without the use of any tool whatever. The plugs are made interchangeable so that a new plug can be slipped in, in place of the old and the old plug can be re-fused for use again at any time. Referring to the plug, Fig. 2, it will be seen that the fuse lies along almost the entire length of the plug on one side which has been recessed to allow a groove for the fuse strip where it will be safe from mechanical injury in withdrawing or replacing. The plug is provided with two metal lugs between which the fuse is connected. One of the lugs covers the entire end of the plug; the other

FIGS. 2 AND 3.-NEW PACKARD CONVERTER CUT-OUT.

with the two ends of the plug. To insert the plug it is held with the projecting lugs in a perpendicular position so that they will pass through the slots shown in the first contact plate within the block. As the end of the plug comes in contact with the rod carrying the spiral spring in the second compartment, a slight pressure is necessary. This forces the spiral spring back, making a perfect contact with the metal rod at that end, and allowing the double lug of the plug to pass through the two slots in the first contact plate above mentioned. A quarter turn to either the right or left throws the double lugs firmly against the first contact plate where they are held by the pressure of the spiral spring at the other end of the plug. It will thus be seen that a perfect contact is assured at both ends of the plug. The fuse box and plug are both made of the very best porcelain, vitrified and highly glazed and are made sufficiently strong to prevent breakage under ordinary conditions.

The Packard Electric Company and the Electric Appliance Company who are their general Western agents feel confident that the new plug will add greatly to the popularity of the Packard transformer which has already established a good reputation.

WESTERN NOTES.

THE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE COMPANY have received among their numerous testimonials on this specialty a letter from one enthusiastic customer who says that with the Allen soldering stick they can solder everything; that they are even able to solder common iron spikes solidly together without filing the surfaces in any way.

SCENIC THEATRES.-The Electric Appliance Company are calling attention to the fact that the wonderful effects in fancy illumination which form such an attractive feature of the Masonic Temple Roof Garden and Scenic Theatre are produced entirely by Packard lamps furnished by the Electric Appliance Company. Several thousand Packards of all sizes, shapes and colors are used in producing the beautiful effects.

Departmental items of Electric Light, Electric Railways, Electric Power, Telegraph, Telephone, New Hotels, New Buildings, Apparatus Wanted, Financial, Miscellaneous, etc., will be found in the advertising pages.

Vol. XVII.

THE NEW CENTRAL STATION OF THE ELMIRA, N. Y., ILLUMINATING CO.

N an industry whose very name is synonymous with progress it is not surprising that each successive step should be a distinct advance-that the experience

of other workers in the same field should lead the electrical engineer who is about to design a fuse block or build a city plant, to improve to a greater or less extent upon existing methods, and not only bring his work up to date, but set a new and advanced standard. The new station of the Elmira Illuminating Co., at Elmira, N. Y., is in this respect a modern and a model station, and reflects great credit upon Mr. F. A. Cheney, under whose personal supervision it was designed and erected. Before starting upon a description of the station and its apparatus, however, two items may be mentioned that it would be well for every station superintendent to make careful note of. They are the things that at once strike a visitor and are of more vital importance than might appear on the surface. The first of these is the absolute

No. 320.

cleanliness that prevails in the station and around it. There is really no excuse for a dirty station. In fact, the accumulation of dirt requires an expenditure of energy that might with greater advantage be otherwise applied. Cleanliness, as a dividend raiser, is a subject worthy of distinguished consideration. The second item is one that is perhaps more noticeable, because less customary, than the first, and is the perfect "man-o'-war" discipline that prevails among the employés. Each man has his appointed post and is responsible for just so much and no more, and everything is in its place and under the control of the proper persons. There is thus no clashing of authority and, in case of emergency, no confusion.

The new station shown both in perspective and plan, consists of a main building 219 feet long by 66 feet wide, and a boiler room 75 by 36 feet constructed entirely of brick, stone and iron with the exception of the floor, which is made of solid wood seven inches in thickness, resting on steel beams. The roofs of the building were furnished and erected by the Berlin Iron Bridge Co. and are covered with anti-condensation roofing, with turret ventilators extending the entire length of both machine and boiler room. The same company also furnished the traveling crane for the machine

room.

Entering the building from the south, one finds first a spacious room 175 feet long by 64 feet in width in which are placed the engines, shafting and dynamos.

The main shaft, mounted on iron floor stands, as shown in the engraving, extends nearly the entire length of the room. This shaft, made by the Falls Rivet and Machine Co., is divided into three sections which can be clutched together when necessary, or run separately. All the driven wheels from the engines are mounted upon quills which can clutched to, or released from, the shaft at will,

thus permitting the starting or stopping of any engine without interfering with the running of the lights; and all pulleys on the shaft are provided with friction clutches.

tor comes to the McIntosh & Seymour vertical triple expansion four cylinder condensing engine D, a magnificent piece of work alone well worth a trip to Elmira to see. The next engine, E, is a Payne horizontal, triple expansion four cylinder, condensing engine, and is used for light loads, while the next two and last, F, are non-condensing Buckeyes used only for reserve and emergency. The total engine capacity is 2,200 H. P.

The steam piping throughout the station is especially noteworthy, and great care and pains have been taken to overcome the many inherent difficulties in this class of work. The main steam pipe is twelve inches in diameter, made of cast iron, flanged and bolted together. Chapman bronze sealed high pressure valves have been used throughout, and special provision has been made for expansion. So well has the work been done that not the slightest steam leak has yet occurred, although the working pressure is 160 lbs.

DYNAMO ROOM SHOWING MCINTOSH & SEYMOUR TRIPLE
EXPANSION ENGINE.

The entire shaft is a beautiful piece of work. On the left of the shaft are located all the dynamos, designated by a on the plan, while the engines are upon the right. Ample room is provided for all machinery as well as extra room for additional machines and engines.

The arc dynamos are seven in number with a capacity of 350 lights. Next beyond these are located the alternating current incandescent dynamos with a capacity of 10,000 lights, while at the extreme end of the room are placed the engines and dynamos for furnishing power for railway and stationary motors. This part of the plant is in duplicate so that in case of a possible accident there will be no interruption of the street car and motor service. These generators are driven by two McIntosh & Seymour

HAMMOND MANNING VERTICAL BOILERS IN THE ELMIRA CENTRAL STATION.

Upon an overhead track supported by the side walls, twenty feet above the floor, is the traveling crane already referred to. This has a capacity of ten tons, and traverses the entire shop.

A well, guarded by a moveable hand railing, opens into the basement and is so arranged that trucks can be backed into the basement from outside the building and loaded or unloaded by the crane. Through a trap in the floor, armatures or heavy machines can be lowered to the shop, also in the basement, and placed directly upon the lathes to be repaired.

The switchboards, four in number, for arc, incandescent, railway and power circuits, are located near the west walls, and are built up of slabs of slate marbleized in imitation of Mexican onyx. Most of the instruments and fittings were furnished by the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. All wires pass from the machines through the floor into the basement and thence to the switchboards. Leaving the latter at the top they run along the wall and turn into the wire tower, whence they pass up and out to

ing of the tubes gives a double circulation, a larger water and steam space, and more surface for the steam to rise from. They have proved themselves far better even than was expected, are quick steamers, give absolutely dry steam, and afford very high economy. They carry a working pressure of 160 pounds. Three different ways of feeding are provided; a steam pump, a power pump and an injector, and all feed-water passes first through a Hoppes purifier; while a track from the coal sheds to the boiler room on a slight down grade provides an easy way of supplying fuel. Outside the boiler room and separated from the building is a brick-lined steel chimney 150 feet in height with a 6-foot flue erected by the Philadelphia Engineering Co. It is shown as the initial at the head of this article.

The water supply for the condensers and boilers is brought through a 14-inch pipe from two artesian wells at a distance of about a mile from the station, that provides

NEW ARC LIGHTING APPARATUS OF THE FORT WAYNE ELECTRIC CORPORATION. Among progressive designers of arc lighting apparatus in this country there has been of late a marked tendency towards the production of dynamos of far higher voltage and far higher capacity or output than those that have heretofore been in use. They have recognized the fact that in these days of reduced rates for both city and commercial arcs, the small and relatively econonomical generdisposition to drive arc lighting wires underground even ating units of the past are at a disadvantage; while the circuits, in place of the many short ones more familiar to in the smaller cities has compelled a resort to longer single the art. The two reasons named have perhaps been most influential in bringing about the change, though others may be found in the advance of the art of dynamo design, the higher quality of insulation in line construction, and the disposition to employ larger direct driving engines in central stations. We illustrate this week a new dynamo, just placed upon the market, which has a peculiar and timely interest not only as illustrating the very latest advance in the direction of bigger dynamos for arc lighting circuits, but as being the first piece of apparatus introduced by the new Fort Wayne Electric Corporation, since its recent dramatic change of name and dissolution of partnership with the General Electric Co.

an abundance of pure cold water at a constant temperature of 51 degrees. Arrangements have also been made so that water can be pumped, should it ever be necessary during repairs, and the pump for this purpose is also connected for use in case of fire.

At the south end of the building separated from the machine room by a fire wall are the store rooms and the station office. One room is provided for linemen where line material of all kinds is stored and cared for, another room is used for repairing, testing, and storing arc lamps; other rooms, for storing meters, house wiring material, shades, globes and supplies of all kinds, which are in charge of a a store keeper. The architectural work of the building is the work of Otis Dockstader, and is a good example of its style; not ornamented, but businesslike and substantial, and above all, well arranged with a view to the purposes for which it was built.

The largest arc machine heretofore designed by Mr. J. J. Wood and built by the old Fort Wayne Company, was a machine capable of generating current for 802,000 candle power lamps. Recognizing the demand for a larger unit than this, Mr. Wood, a veteran in this field, some time since started on the design of a machine of practically twice this capacity, and the result of his intelligent work is represented in the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. The relation which the new machine bears to the old type is best shown by comparing the two, which are here placed side by side, Fig. 2 representing the 80 lighter, both reduced to the same scale. The new machine is said to be the largest self-contained arc machine ever built. On a recent test it operated 153 full arc lamps on the 38-mile circuit of the local Fort Wayne electric light company, for a period of 18 hours, after having been previously operated for 30 hours. In other words, the