Introduction Of The Edison Electric Light - 2

Introduction Of The Edison Electric Light - 2

It can be readily seen that this situation made it all the more difficult for the Edison

system to secure the large sums of money needed for its exploitation, and to obtain new

franchises or city ordinances as a public utility. Thus in a curious manner the modern art

of electric lighting was in a very true sense divided against itself, with intense rivalries

and jealousies which were none the less real because they were but temporary and

occurred in a field where ultimate union of forces was inevitable. For a long period the

arc was dominant and supreme in the lighting branch of the electrical industries, in all

respects, whether as to investment, employees, income, and profits, or in respect to the

manufacturing side. When the great National Electric Light Association was formed in

1885, its organizers were the captains of arc lighting, and not a single Edison company or

licensee could be found in its ranks, or dared to solicit membership. The Edison

companies, soon numbering about three hundred, formed their own association--still

maintained as a separate and useful body--and the lines were tensely drawn in a way that

made it none too easy for the Edison service to advance, or for an impartial man to

remain friendly with both sides. But the growing popularity of incandescent lighting, the

flexibility and safety of the system, the ease with which other electric devices for heat,

power, etc., could be put indiscriminately on the same circuits with the lamps, in due

course rendered the old attitude of opposition obviously foolish and untenable.

The United States Census Office statistics of 1902 show that the income from

incandescent lighting by central stations had by that time become over 52 per cent. of the

total, while that from arc lighting was less than 29; and electric-power service due to the

ease with which motors could be introduced on incandescent circuits brought in 15 per

cent. more. Hence twenty years after the first Edison stations were established the

methods they involved could be fairly credited with no less than 67 per cent. of all

central-station income in the country, and the proportion has grown since then. It will be

readily understood that under these conditions the modern lighting company supplies to

its customers both incandescent and arc lighting, frequently from the same dynamoelectric

machinery as a source of current; and that the old feud as between the rival

systems has died out. In fact, for some years past the presidents of the National Electric

Light Association have been chosen almost exclusively from among the managers of the

great Edison lighting companies in the leading cities.

The other strong opposition to the incandescent light came from the gas industry. There

also the most bitter feeling was shown. The gas manager did not like the arc light, but it

interfered only with his street service, which was not his largest source of income by any

means. What did arouse his ire and indignation was to find this new opponent, the little

incandescent lamp, pushing boldly into the field of interior lighting, claiming it on a great

variety of grounds of superiority, and calmly ignoring the question of price, because it

was so much better. Newspaper records and the pages of the technical papers of the day

show to what an extent prejudice and passion were stirred up and the astounding degree

to which the opposition to the new light was carried.

Here again was given a most convincing demonstration of the truth that such an addition

to the resources of mankind always carries with it unsuspected benefits even for its

enemies. In two distinct directions the gas art was immediately helped by Edison's work.

The competition was most salutary in the stimulus it gave to improvements in processes

for making, distributing, and using gas, so that while vast economies have been effected

at the gas works, the customer has had an infinitely better light for less money. In the

second place, the coming of the incandescent light raised the standard of illumination in

such a manner that more gas than ever was wanted in order to satisfy the popular demand

for brightness and brilliancy both indoors and on the street. The result of the operation of

these two forces acting upon it wholly from without, and from a rival it was desired to

crush, has been to increase enormously the production and use of gas in the last twentyfive

years. It is true that the income of the central stations is now over $300,000,000 a

year, and that isolated-plant lighting represents also a large amount of diverted business;

but as just shown, it would obviously be unfair to regard all this as a loss from the

standpoint of gas. It is in great measure due to new sources of income developed by

electricity for itself.