Edisonhimselfwasinuniversalrequestandthesubjectofmuchadulation，butaltogethertoobusyandmodesttobespoiledbyit。Onceinawhilehefeltithisdutytogooverthegroundwithscientificvisitors，manyofwhomwerefromabroad，anddiscussquestionswhichwerenotsimplythoseoftechnique，butrelatedtonewerphenomena，suchastheactionofcarbon，thenatureandeffectsofhighvacua；theprinciplesofelectricalsubdivision；thevalueofinsulation，andmanyotherswhich，unfortu-
natetosay，remainasesotericnowastheywerethen，everfruitfulthemesofcontroversy。
Speakingofthosedaysornights，Edisonsays：
“YearsagooneofthegreatviolinistswasRemenyi。
Afterhisperformanceswereoverheusedtocomedownto`65'andtalkeconomics，philosophy，moralscience，andeverythingelse。Hewashighlyeducatedandhadgreatmentalcapacity。Hewouldtalkwithme，butIneveraskedhimtobringhisviolin。Onenighthecamewithhisviolin，abouttwelveo'clock。
Ihadalibraryatthetopofthehouse，andRemenyicameupthere。Hewasinagenialhumor，andplayedtheviolinformeforabouttwohours——$2000worth。
Thefrontdoorswereclosed，andhewalkedupanddowntheroomasheplayed。Afterthat，everytimehecametoNewYorkheusedtocallat`65'lateatnightwithhisviolin。Ifwewerenotthere，hecouldcomedowntotheslumsatGoerckStreet，andwouldplayforanhourortwoandtalkphilosophy。Iwouldtalkforthebenefitofhismusic。HenryE。Dixey，thenattheheightofhis`Adonis'popularity，wouldcomeininthosedays，aftertheatrehours，andwouldentertainuswithstories——1882-84。AnothervisitorwhousedtogiveusagooddealofamusementandpleasurewasCaptainShaw，theheadoftheLondonFireBrigade。Hewasgoodcompany。Hewouldgooutamongthefire-laddiesandhaveagreattime。
OnetimeRobertLincolnandAnsonStager，oftheWesternUnion，interestedintheelectriclight，cameontomakesomearrangementwithMajorEaton，PresidentoftheEdisonElectricLightCompany。
Theycameto`65'intheafternoon，andLincolncom-
mencedtellingstories——likehisfather。Theytoldstoriesalltheafternoon，andthatnighttheyleftforChicago。WhentheygottoCleveland，itdawneduponthemthattheyhadnotdoneanybusiness，sotheyhadtocomebackonthenexttraintoNewYorktotransactit。TheywereinterestedintheChicagoEdisonCompany，nowoneofthelargestofthesystemsintheworld。Speakingoftellingstories，I
oncegottellingamanstoriesattheHarrisonlampfactory，intheyard，ashewasleaving。Itwaswinter，andhewasallinfurs。Ihadnothingontoprotectmeagainstthecold。Itoldhimonestoryaftertheother——sixofthem。ThenIgotpleurisy，andhadtobeshippedtoFloridaforcure。“
TheorganizationoftheEdisonElectricLightCompanywentbackto1878；butuptothetimeofleasing65FifthAvenueithadnotbeenengagedinactualbusiness。Ithadmerelyenjoyedthedelightsofanxiousanticipation，andtheperilouspleasureofbackingEdison'sexperiments。Nowactiveexploitationwasrequired。Dr。NorvinGreen，thewell-knownPresidentoftheWesternUnionTelegraphCompany，waspresidentalsooftheEdisonCompany，butthepressingnatureofhisregulardutieslefthimnoleisureforsuchcloseresponsiblemanagementaswasnowrequired。Earlyin1881Mr。GrosvenorP。
Lowrey，afterconsultationwithMr。Edison，prevaileduponMajorS。B。Eaton，theleadingmemberofaveryprominentlawfirminNewYork，toacceptthepositionofvice-presidentandgeneralmanagerofthecompany，inwhich，asalsoinsomeofthesubsidiaryEdisoncompanies，andaspresi-
dent，hecontinuedactivelyandenergeticallyfornearlyfouryears，acritical，formativeperiodinwhichthesolidityofthefoundationlaidisattestedbythemagnitudeandsplendorofthesuperstructure。
ThefactthatEdisonconferredatthispointwithMr。Lowreyshould，perhaps，beexplainedinjusticetothedistinguishedlawyer，whoforsomanyyearswastheclosefriendoftheinventor，andthechiefcounselinallthetremendouslitigationthatfollowedtheefforttoenforceandvalidatetheEdisonpatents。
AsinEnglandMr。EdisonwasfortunateinsecuringthelegalassistanceofSirRichardWebster，afterwardLordChiefJusticeofEngland，soinAmericaitcountedgreatlyinhisfavortoenjoytheadvocacyofsuchamanasLowrey，prominentamongthefamousleadersoftheNewYorkbar。BorninMassachusetts，Mr。Lowrey，inhisearlierdaysofstraitenedcircumstances，wasaccustomedtodefraysomeportionofhiseducationalexpensesbyteachingmusicintheBerkshirevillages，andbyacuriouscoincidenceoneofhispupilswasF。L。Pope，laterEdison'spartnerforatime。LowreywentWestto“BleedingKansas“withthefirstGovernor，Reeder，andbothwereactiveparticipantsintheexcitingscenesofthe“FreeState“waruntildrivenawayin1856，likemanyotherfree-soilers，bytheactsofthe“BorderRuffian“legislature。ReturningEast，Mr。LowreytookuppracticeinNewYork，soonbecomingeminentinhisprofession，andupontheaccessionofWilliamOrtontothepresidencyoftheWesternUnionTelegraphCompanyin1866，hewasappointeditsgeneralcounsel，thedutiesofwhichposthedischargedforfifteenyears。Oneofthegreatcasesinwhichhethustookaleadinganddistinguishedpartwasthatofthequadruplextelegraph；andlaterheactedaslegaladvisertoHenryVillardinhisnumerousgrandioseenterprises。LowreythuscametoknowEdison，toconceiveanintenseadmirationforhim，andtobelieveinhisabilityatatimewhenotherscouldnotdetectthefireofgeniussmoulderingbeneaththemodestexteriorofagauntyoungoperatorslowly“findinghimself。“ItwillbeseenthatMrLowreywasinapeculiarlyadvantageouspositiontomakehisconvictionsaboutEdisonfelt，sothatitwasheandhisfriendswhoralliedquicklytothenewbannerofdiscovery，andlenttotheinventortheaidthatcameatacriticalperiod。InthisconnectionitmaybewelltoquoteanarticlethatappearedatthetimeofMr。Lowrey'sdeath，in1893：“OneofthemostimportantserviceswhichMr。LowreyhaseverperformedwasinfurnishingandprocuringthenecessaryfinancialbackingforThomasA。Edisoninbringingoutandperfectinghissystemofincandescentlighting。Withcharacteristicpertinacity，Mr。Lowreystoodbytheinventorthroughthickandthin，inspiteofdoubt，discouragement，andridicule，untilatlastsuccesscrownedhisefforts。Inallthelitigationwhichhasresultedfromthewide-spreadinfringementsoftheEdisonpatents，Mr。Lowreyhaseverbornetheburdenandheatoftheday，andperhapsinnootherfieldhashesopersonallydistinguishedhimselfasinthesuccessfuladvocacyoftheclaimsofEdisontotheinventionoftheincandescentlampandeverything“hereuntopertaining。“
ThiswasthemanofwhomEdisonhadnecessarilytomakeaconfidantandadviser，andwhosuppliedotherthingsbesidesthelegaldirectionandfinancialalliance，byhisknowledgeoftheworldandofaffairs。
ThereweremanyvitalthingstobedoneintheexploitationofthesystemthatEdisonsimplycouldnotandwouldnotdo；butinLowrey'ssavoirfaire，readywitandhumor，chivalryofdevotion，gracefuleloquence，andadmirableequipoiseofjudgmentwereallthequalitiesthattheoccasiondemandedandthatmettheexigencies。
WeareindebtedtoMr。InsullforagraphicsketchofEdisonatthisperiod，andoftheconditionsunderwhichworkwasdoneandprogresswasmade：“IdonotthinkIhadanyunderstandingwithEdisonwhenIfirstwentwithhimastomyduties。Ididwhateverhetoldme，andlookedafterallkindsofaffairs，frombuyinghisclothestofinancinghisbusiness。
Iusedtoopenthecorrespondenceandansweritall，sometimessigningEdison'snamewithmyinitial，andsometimessigningmyownname。Ifthelattercoursewaspursued，andIwasaddressingastranger，IwouldsignasEdison'sprivatesecretary。
Iheldhispowerofattorney，andsignedhischecks。
ItwasseldomthatEdisonsignedaletterorcheckatthistime。Ifhewantedpersonallytosendacommunicationtoanybody，ifitwasoneofhiscloseassociates，itwouldprobablybeapencilmemorandumsigned`Edison。'Iwasashorthandwriter，butseldomtookdownfromEdison'sdictation，unlessitwasonsometechnicalsubjectthatIdidnotunderstand。
IwouldgooverthecorrespondencewithEdison，sometimesmakingamarginalnoteinshorthand，andsometimesEdisonwouldmakehisownnotesonletters，andIwouldbeexpectedtocleanupthecorrespondencewithEdison'slaconiccommentsasaguideastothecharacterofanswertomake。ItwasaverycommonthingforEdisontowritethewords`Yes'or`No，'andthiswouldbeallIhadonwhichtobasemyanswer。Edisonmarginalizeddocumentsextensively。Hehadawonderfulabilityinpointingouttheweakpointsofanagreementorabalance-sheet，allthewhileprotestinghewasnolawyeroraccountant；
andhisviewswereexpressedinveryfewwords，butinacharacteristicandemphaticmanner。
“ThefirstfewmonthsIwaswithEdisonhespentmostofthetimeintheofficeat65FifthAvenue。
Thentherewasagreatdealoftroublewiththelifeofthelampsthere，andhedisappearedfromtheofficeandspenthistimelargelyatMenloPark。Atanothertimetherewasagreatdealoftroublewithsomeofthedetailsofconstructionofthedynamos，andEdisonspentalotoftimeatGoerckStreet，whichhadbeenrapidlyequippedwiththeideaofturningoutbi-polardynamo-electricmachines，direct-connectedtotheengine，thefirstofwhichwenttoParisandLondon，whilethenextwereinstalledintheoldPearlStreetstationoftheEdisonElectricIlluminatingCompanyofNewYork，justsouthofFultonStreet，onthewestsideofthestreet。
Edisondevotedagreatdealofhistimetotheengineeringworkinconnectionwiththelayingoutofthefirstincandescentelectric-lightingsysteminNewYork。Apparentlyatthattime——betweentheendof1881andspringof1882——themostseriousworkwasthemanufactureandinstallationofundergroundconductorsinthisterritory。TheseconductorsweremanufacturedbytheElectricTubeCompany，whichEdisoncontrolledinashopat65
WashingtonStreet，runbyJohnKruesi。Half-roundcopperconductorswereused，keptinplacerelativelytoeachotherandinthetube，firstofallbyaheavypieceofcardboard，andlateronbyarope；andthenputinatwenty-footironpipe；andacombinationofasphaltumandlinseedoilwasforcedintothepipefortheinsulation。Irememberasacoincidencethatthebuildingwasonlytwentyfeetwide。Theselengthsofconductorsweretwentyfeetsixincheslong，asthehalf-roundcoppersextendedthreeinchesbeyondthedrag-endsofthelengthsofpipe；andinoneoftheoperationsweusedtotakethelengthoftubingoutofthewindowinordertoturnitaround。IwaselectedsecretaryoftheElectricTubeCompany，andwasexpectedtolookafteritsfinance；anditwasinthispositionthatmylongintimacywithJohnKruesistarted。“
Atthisjuncturealargepartofthecorrespondencereferredverynaturallytoelectriclighting，embodyingrequestsforallkindsofinformation，catalogues，prices，terms，etc。；andalltheseletterswereturnedovertothelightingcompanybyEdisonforattention。
Thecompanywassoonswampedwithpropositionsforsaleofterritorialrightsandwithothernegotiations，andsomeofthesewereaccompaniedbytheofferofverylargesumsofmoney。Itwasthebeginningoftheelectric-lightfurorwhichsoonrosetosensationalheights。Hadthecompanyacceptedthecashoffersfromvariouslocalities，itcouldhavegatheredseveralmillionsofdollarsatonceintoitstreasury；butthiswasnotatallinaccordwithMr。Edison'sidea，whichwastoprovebyactualexperiencethecommercialvalueofthesystem，andthentolicensecentral-
stationcompaniesinlargecitiesandtowns，theparentcompanytakingapercentageoftheircapitalforthelicenseundertheEdisonpatents，andcontractingalsoforthesupplyofapparatus，lamps，etc。Thislefttheremainderofthecountryopenforthecashsaleofplantswhereverrequested。Hiscounselsprevailed，andthewisdomofthepolicyadoptedwasseenintheswiftestablishmentofEdisoncompaniesincentresofpopulationbothgreatandsmall，whosebusinesshaseverbeenaconstantandgrowingsourceofincomefortheparentmanufacturinginterests。
FromfirsttolastEdisonhasbeenanexponentandadvocateofthecentral-stationideaofdistributionnowsofamiliartothepublicmind，butstillveryfarfrombeingcarriedouttoitslogicalconclusion。Inthisinstance，demandsforisolatedplantsforlightingfactories，mills，mines，hotels，etc。，begantopourin，andsomethinghadtobedonewiththem。Thiswasaclassofplantwhichtheinquirersdesiredtopurchaseoutrightandoperatethemselves，usuallybecauseofremotenessfromanypossiblesourceofgeneralsupplyofcurrent。IthadnotbeenEdison'sintentiontocatertothisclassofcustomeruntilhisbroadcentral-stationplanhadbeenworkedout，andhehasalwaysdiscouragedtheisolatedplantwithinthelimitsofurbancircuits；butthisdemandwassoinsistentitcouldnotbedenied，anditwasdeemeddesirabletocomplywithitatonce，especiallyasitwasseenthatthesteadycallforsuppliesandrenewalswouldbenefitthenewEdisonmanufacturingplants。Afteraveryshorttrial，itwasfoundnecessarytocreateaseparateorganizationforthisbranchoftheindustry，leavingtheEdisonElectricLightCompanytocontinueundertheoriginalplanofoperationasaparent，patent-holdingandlicensingcompany。AccordinglyanewanddistinctcorporationwasformedcalledtheEdisonCompanyforIsolatedLighting，towhichwasissuedaspeciallicensetosellandoperateplantsofaself-containedcharacter。Asamatteroffactsuchworkbeganinadvanceofalmosteveryotherkind。Asmallplantusingthepaper-carbonfilamentlampswasfurnishedbyEdisonattheearnestsolicitationofMr。HenryVillardforthesteamshipColumbia，in1879，anditisamusingtonotethatMr。Uptoncarriedthelampshimselftotheship，verytenderlyandjealously，likefresheggs，inamarket-gardenbasket。Theinstallationwasmostsuccessful。AnotherpioneerplantwasthatequippedandstartedinJanuary，1881，forHinds&Ketcham，aNewYorkfirmoflithographersandcolorprinters，whohadpreviouslybeenabletoworkonlybyday，owingtodifficultiesincolor-
printingbyartificiallight。Ayearlatertheysaid：
“Itisthebestsubstitutefordaylightwehaveeverknown，andalmostascheap。“
Mr。Edisonhimselfdescribesvariousinstancesinwhichthedemandforisolatedplantshadtobemet：
“Onenightat`65，'“hesays，“JamesGordonBennettcamein。Wewereveryanxioustogetintoaprintingestablishment。Ihadcausedaprinter'scomposingcasetobesetupwiththeideathatifwecouldgeteditorsandpublishersintoseeit，weshouldshowthemtheadvantagesoftheelectriclight。SoultimatelyMr。Bennettcame，andafterseeingthewholeoperationofeverything，heorderedMr。Howland，generalmanageroftheHerald，tolightthenewspaperofficesupatoncewithelectricity。“
Anotherinstanceofthesamekinddealswiththeintroductionofthelightforpurelysocialpurposes：
“Whileat65FifthAvenue，“remarksMr。Edison，“IgottoknowChristianHerter，thenthelargestdecoratorintheUnitedStates。Hewasahighlyintellectualman，andIlovedtotalktohim。Hewasalwaysrailingagainsttherichpeople，forwhomhedidwork，fortheirpoortaste。OnedayMr。W。H。
Vanderbiltcameto`65，'sawthelight，anddecidedthathewouldhavehisnewhouselightedwithit。
Thiswasoneofthebig`boxhouses'onupperFifthAvenue。Heputthewholematterinthehandsofhisson-in-law，Mr。H。McK。Twombly，whowastheninchargeofthetelephonedepartmentoftheWesternUnion。Twomblyclosedthecontractwithusforaplant。Mr。Herterwasdoingthedecoration，anditwasextraordinarilyfine。Afterawhilewegottheenginesandboilersandwiresalldone，andthelightsinposition，beforethehousewasquitefinished，andthoughtwewouldhaveanexhibitofthelight。Abouteighto'clockintheeveningwelitup，anditwasverygood。Mr。Vanderbiltandhiswifeandsomeofhisdaughterscamein，andwerethereafewminuteswhenafireoccurred。Thelargepicture-gallerywaslinedwithsilkclothinterwovenwithfinemetallicthread。Insomemannertwowireshadgotcrossedwiththistinsel，whichbecamered-hot，andthewholemasswassoonafire。Iknewwhatwasthematter，andorderedthemtorundownandshutoff。Ithadnotburstintoflame，anddiedoutimmediately。
Mrs。Vanderbiltbecamehysterical，andwantedtoknowwhereitcamefrom。Wetoldherwehadtheplantinthecellar，andwhenshelearnedwehadaboilerthereshesaidshewouldnotoccupythehouse。
Shewouldnotliveoveraboiler。Wehadtotakethewholeinstallationout。ThehousesafterwardwentontotheNewYorkEdisonsystem。“
Theartwas，however，verycrudeandraw，andastherewerenoartisansinexistenceasmechanicsorelectricianswhohadanyknowledgeofthepractice，therewasinconceivabledifficultyingettingsuchisolatedplantsinstalled，aswellaswiringthebuildingsinthedistricttobecoveredbythefirstcentralstationinNewYork。Anightschoolwas，therefore，foundedatFifthAvenue，andwasputinchargeofMr。E。H。Johnson，freshfromhissuccessesinEngland。
Themostavailablemenforthepurposewere，ofcourse，thosewhohadbeenaccustomedtowiringforthesimplerelectricalsystemstheninvogue——
telephones，district-messengercalls，burglaralarms，houseannunciators，etc。，andanumberofthese“wiremen“wereengagedandinstructedpatientlyintherudimentsofthenewartbymeansofablackboardandorallessons。Studentsfromthetechnicalschoolsandcollegeswerealsoeagerrecruits，forherewassomethingthatpromisedacareer，andonethatwasespeciallyalluringtoyouthbecauseofitsnovelty。
ThesebeginnerswerealsoinstructedingeneralengineeringproblemsundertheguidanceofMr。C。L。
Clarke，whowasbroughtinfromtheMenloParklaboratorytoassumechargeoftheengineeringpartofthecompany'saffairs。Manyofthesepioneerstudentsandworkmenbecameafterwardlargeandsuccessfulcontractors，orhavefilledpositionsofdistinctionasmanagersandsuperintendentsofcentralstations。Possiblytheelectricalindustrymaynotnowattractasmuchadventurousgeniusasitdidthen，forautomobiles，aeronautics，andothernewartshavecometothefrontinaquarterofacenturytoenlisttheenthusiasmofayoungergenerationofmercurialspirits；butitiscertainthatattheperiodofwhichwewrite，Edisonhimself，stillunderthirty-
five，wasthecentreofanextraordinarygroupofmen，fullofeffervescingandaspiringtalent，towhichhegavegloriousopportunity。
AverynovelliteraryfeatureoftheworkwastheissuanceofabulletindevotedentirelytotheEdisonlightingpropaganda。Nowadaysthe“houseorgan，“
asitiscalled，hasbecomeaveryhackneyedfeatureofindustrialdevelopment，confusinginitsvarietyandvolume，andasomewhatdoubtfuladjuncttoahighlyperfected，widelycirculatingperiodicaltechnicalpress。
Butatthattime，1882，theBulletinoftheEdisonElectricLightCompany，publishedinordinary12moform，wasdistinctlynewinadvertisingandpossiblyunique，asitisdifficulttofindanythingthatcomparedwithit。TheBulletinwascarriedonforsomeyears，untilitsnecessitywasremovedbythedevelopmentofotheropportunitiesforreachingthepublic；
anditspagesservenowasavividandlivelypictureoftheperiodtowhichitsrecordapplies。Thefirstissue，ofJanuary12，1882，wasonlyfourpages，butitdealtwiththequestionofinsurance；plantsatSantiago，Chili，andRiodeJaneiro；theEuropeanCompanywith3，500，000francssubscribed；theworkinParis，London，Strasburg，andMoscow；thelayingofoversixmilesofstreetmainsinNewYork；apatentdecisioninfavorofEdison；andthesizeofsafetycatchwire。ByAprilof1882，theBulletinhadattainedtherespectablesizeofsixteenpages；andinDecemberitwasaportlymagazineofforty-eight。
Everyitembearstestimonytotherapidprogressbeingmade；andbytheendof1882itisseenthatnofewerthan153isolatedEdisonplantshadbeeninstalledintheUnitedStatesalone，withacapacityof29，192lamps。Moreover，theNewYorkcentralstationhadgoneintooperation，startingat3P。M。onSeptember4，andatthecloseof1882itwaslighting225houseswiredforabout5000lamps。Thisepochalstorywillbetoldinthenextchapter。MostinterestingaretheBulletinnotesfromEngland，especiallyinregardtothebrilliantexhibitiongivenbyMr。
E。H。JohnsonattheCrystalPalace，Sydenham，visitedbytheDukeandDuchessofEdinburgh，twicebytheDukesofWestminsterandSutherland，bythreehundredmembersoftheGasInstitute，andbyinnumerabledelegationsfromcities，boroughs，etc。
DescribingthisbeforetheRoyalSocietyofArts，SirW。H。Preece，F。R。S。，remarked：“ManyunkindthingshavebeensaidofMr。Edisonandhispromises；
perhapsnoonehasbeensevererinthisdirectionthanmyself。Itissomegratificationformetoannouncemybeliefthathehasatlastsolvedtheproblemhesethimselftosolve，andtobeabletodescribetotheSocietythewayinwhichhehassolvedit。“BeforetheexhibitioncloseditwasvisitedbythePrinceandPrincessofWales——nowthedeceasedEdwardVII。
andtheDowagerQueenAlexandra——andthePrincessreceivedfromMr。Johnsonasasouveniratinyelectricchandelierfashionedlikeabouquetoffernleavesandflowers，thebudsbeingsomeofthefirstminiatureincandescentlampsevermade。
ThefirstiteminthefirstBulletindealtwiththe“FireQuestion，“andallthroughthesuccessiveissuesrunsaseriesofsignificantitemsonthesamesubject。
Manyofthemareaimedatgas，andthereareseveralgrimsummariesofdeathandfiresduetogas-
leaksorexplosions。Atendencyexistedatthetimetoassumethatelectricitywasaltogethersafe，whileitsopponents，predicatingtheirattacksonarc-lightingcasualties，insisteditwasmostdangerous。Edison'sproblemineducatingthepublicwasratherdifficult，forwhilehislow-pressure，direct-currentsystemhasalwaysbeenabsolutelywithoutdangertolife，therehasalsobeentheundeniablefactthatescapingelectricitymightcauseafirejustasaleakywater-
pipecanfloodahouse。Theimportantquestionhadarisen，therefore，ofsatisfyingthefireunderwritersastothesafetyofthesystem。Hehadforeseenthattherewouldbeanabsolutenecessityforspecialdevicestopreventfiresfromoccurringbyreasonofanyexcessofcurrentflowinginanycircuit；andseveralofhisearliestdetaillightinginventionsdealwiththissubject。TheinsuranceunderwritersofNewYorkandotherpartsofthecountrygaveagreatdealoftimeandstudytothequestionthroughtheirmostexpertrepresentatives，withtheaidofEdisonandhisassociates，otherelectric-lightcompaniescooperating；andtheknowledgethusgainedwasembodiedininsurancerulestogovernwiringforelectriclights，formulatedduringthelatterpartof1881，adoptedbytheNewYorkBoardofFireUnderwriters，January12，1882，andsubsequentlyendorsedbyotherboardsinthevariousinsurancedistricts。Undertemporaryrulings，however，avastamountofworkhadalreadybeendone，butitwasobviousthatastheindustrygrewtherewouldbelessandlesspossibilityofsupervisionexceptthroughsuchregulations，insistingupontheuseofthebestdevicesandmethods。Indeed，thedirectsuperintendencesoonbecameunnecessary，owingtotheincreasingknowledgeandgreaterskillacquiredbytheinstallingstaff；andthissystemofeducationwasnotablyimprovedbyamanualwrittenbyMr。Edisonhimself。Copiesofthisbrochureareasscarceto-dayasFirstFolioShakespeares，andcommandpricesequaltothoseofotherAmericanfirsteditions。Thelittlebookistheonlyknownincursionofitsauthorintoliterature，ifweexceptthebriefarticleshehaswrittenfortechnicalpapersandforthemagazines。
Itcontainedwhatwasatonceafull，elaborate，andterseexplanationofacompleteisolatedplant，withdiagramsofvariousmethodsofconnectionandoperation，andacarefullydetaileddescriptionofeveryindividualpart，itsfunctionsanditscharacteristics。TheremarkablesuccessofthoseearlyyearswasindeedonlyachievedbyfollowingupwithChineseexactnesstheminuteandintimatemethodsinsisteduponbyEdisonastotheuseoftheapparatusanddevicesemployed。Itwasacuriousexampleofestablishingstandardpracticewhilechangingwithkaleidoscopicrapidityalltheelementsinvolved。Hewastruetoanidealastothepole-star，butwasincessantlymakingimprovementsineverydirection。
Withaniconoclasmthathasoftenseemedruthlessandbrutalhedidnothesitatetosacrificeolderdevicesthemomentanewonecameinsightthatembodiedarealadvanceinsecuringeffectiveresults。Theprocessisheroicbutcostly。Nobodyeverhadabiggerscrap-heapthanEdison；butwhodareproclaimtheprocessintrinsicallywastefulifthelossesoccurintheinitialstages，andtheeconomiesinallthelaterones？
WithEdisoninthisintroductionofhislightingsystemthemethodwasruthless，butnotreckless。
Atanearlystageofthecommercialdevelopmentastandardizingcommitteewasformed，consistingoftheheadsofallthedepartments，andtothisbodywasintrustedthetaskoftestingandcriticisingallexistingandproposeddevices，aswellasofconsideringthesuggestionsandcomplaintsofworkmenofferedfromtimetotime。Thisprocedurewasfruitfulintwoprincipalresults——theeducationofthewholeexecutiveforceinthetechnicaldetailsofthesystem；andaconstantimprovementinthequalityoftheEdisoninstallations；bothcontributingtotherapidgrowthoftheindustry。
FormanyyearsGoerckStreetplayedanimportantpartinEdison'saffairs，beingthecentreofallhismanufactureofheavymachinery。Butitwasnotinadesirableneighborhood，andowingtotherapidgrowthofthebusinesssoonbecamedisadvantageousforotherreasons。Edisontellsofhisfrequentvisitstotheshopsatnight，withtheescortof“Jim“Russell，awell-knowndetective，whoknewallthedenizensoftheplace：“Weusedtogooutatnighttoalittle，lowplace，anall-nighthouse——eightfeetwideandtwenty-twofeetlong——wherewegotalunchattwoorthreeo'clockinthemorning。Itwasthetoughestkindofrestauranteverseen。Fortheclamchowdertheyusedthesamefourclamsduringthewholeseason，andtheaveragenumberoffliesperpiewasseven。
Thiswasbyactualcount。“
Astotheshopsandthelocality：“Thestreetwaslinedwithratheroldbuildingsandpoortenements。
Wehadnotmuchfrontage。Asourbusinessincreasedenormously，ourquartersbecametoosmall，sowesawthedistrictTammanyleaderandaskedhimifwecouldnotstorecastingsandotherthingsonthesidewalk。Hegaveuspermission——toldustogoahead，andhewouldseeitwasallright。Theonlythingherequiredforthiswasthatwhenamanwassentwithanotefromhimaskingustogivehimajob，hewastobeputon。Wehadahand-laborerforeman——`BigJim'——averypowerfulIrishman，whocouldliftabovehalfaton。WhenoneoftheTammanyaspirantsappeared，hewastoldtogorighttoworkat$1。50perday。Thenextdayhewastoldofftoliftacertainpiece，andifthemancouldnotliftithewasdischarged。ThatmadetheTammanymanallsafe。Jimcouldpickthepieceupeasily。
Theothermancouldnot，andsowelethimout。
FinallytheTammanyleadercalledahalt，aswewererunningbigenginelathesoutonthesidewalk，andhewasafraidwewerecarryingitalittletoofar。
Thelatheswereworkedrightoutinthestreet，andbeltedthroughthewindowsoftheshop。“
AtlastitbecamenecessarytomovefromGoerckStreet，andMr。EdisongivesaveryinterestingaccountoftheincidentsinconnectionwiththetransferoftheplanttoSchenectady，NewYork：“AfterourworksatGoerckStreetgottoosmall，wehadlabortroublesalso。ItseemsIhadratherasocialisticstraininme，andIraisedthepayoftheworkmentwenty-fivecentsanhourabovetheprevailingrateofwages，whereuponHoe&Company，ournearneighbors，complainedatourdoingthis。IsaidI
thoughtitwasallright。Butthemen，havinggotalittlemorewages，thoughttheywouldtrycoercionandgetalittlemore，aswewereconsideredsoftmarks。Whereupontheystruckatatimethatwascritical。However，wewereshortofmoneyforpay-
rolls；andweconcludeditmightnotbesobadafterall，asitwouldgiveusacoupleofweekstocatchup。
Sowhenthemenwentouttheyappointedacommitteetomeetus；butfortwoweekstheycouldnotfindus，sotheybecamesomewhatmoreanxiousthanwewere。Finallytheysaidtheywouldliketogoback。Wesaidallright，andbacktheywent。Itwasquiteanoveltytothemennottobeabletofinduswhentheywantedto；andtheydidn'trelishitatall。
“Whatwiththesetroublesandthelackofroom，wedecidedtofindafactoryelsewhere，anddecidedtotrythelocomotiveworksupatSchenectady。Itseemsthatthepeopletherehadhadafallingoutamongthemselves，andoneofthedirectorshadstartedoppositionworks；butbeforehehadcompletedallthebuildingsandputinmachinerysomecompromisewasmade，andtheworkswereforsale。
Weboughtthemveryreasonablyandmovedeverythingthere。TheseworkswereownedbymeandmyassistantsuntilsoldtotheEdisonGeneralElectricCompany。Atonetimeweemployedseveralthousandmen；andsincethentheworkshavebeengreatlyexpanded。
“Atthesenewworksourorderswerefarinexcessofourcapitaltohandlethebusiness，andbothMr。
InsullandIwereafraidwemightgetintotroubleforlackofmoney。Mr。Insullwasthenmybusinessmanager，runningthewholething；and，therefore，whenMr。HenryVillardandhissyndicateofferedtobuyusout，weconcludeditwasbettertobesurethanbesorry；sowesoldoutforalargesum。Villardwasaveryaggressivemanwithbigideas，butI
couldneverquiteunderstandhim。Hehadnosenseofhumor。IrememberonetimeweweregoingupontheHudsonRiverboattoinspecttheworks，andwithuswasMr。Henderson，ourchiefengineer，whowascertainlythebestraconteuroffunnystoriesI
everknew。Wesatatthetail-endoftheboat，andhestartedintotellfunnystories。Villardcouldnotseeasinglepoint，andscarcelylaughedatall；andHendersonbecamesodisconcertedhehadtogiveitup。ItwasthesamewaywithGould。IntheearlytelegraphdaysIremembergoingwithhimtoseeMackayin“TheImpecuniousCountryEditor。“Itwasveryfunny，fullofamusingandabsurdsituations；
butGouldneversmiledonce。“
TheformationoftheEdisonGeneralElectricCompanyinvolvedtheconsolidationoftheimmediateEdisonmanufacturinginterestsinelectriclightandpower，withacapitalizationof$12，000，000，nowarelativelymodestsum；butinthosedaystheamountwaslarge，andthecombinationcausedagreatdealofnewspapercommentastosuchacoinageofbrainpower。ThenextstepcamewiththecreationofthegreatGeneralElectricCompanyofto-day，acombinationoftheEdison，Thomson-Houston，andBrushlightinginterestsinmanufacture，whichtothisdaymaintainstheever-growingplantsatHarrison，Lynn，andSchenectady，andthereemploysfromtwentytotwenty-fivethousandpeople。
CHAPTERXVI
THEFIRSTEDISONCENTRALSTATION
ANOTEDinventoroncesaidattheendofalifetimeoffightingtodefendhisrights，thathefoundtherewerethreestagesinallgreatinventions：
thefirst，inwhichpeoplesaidthethingcouldnotbedone；thesecond，inwhichtheysaidanybodycoulddoit；andthethird，inwhichtheysaidithadalwaysbeendonebyeverybody。Inhiscentral-
stationworkEdisonhashadverymuchthiskindofexperience；forwhilemanyofhisopponentscametoacknowledgethenoveltyandutilityofhisplans，andgavehimunstintedpraise，therearedoubtlessotherswhotothisdayprofesstolookuponhimmerelyasanadapter。HowdifferenttheviewofsoeminentascientistasLordKelvinwas，maybeappreciatedfromhisremarkwheninlateryears，inreplytothequestionwhysomeoneelsedidnotinventsoobviousandsimpleathingastheFeederSystem，hesaid：
“TheonlyanswerIcanthinkofisthatnooneelsewasEdison。“
Undauntedbytheattitudeofdoubtandthepredictionsofimpossibility，EdisonhadpushedonuntilhewasnowabletorealizeallhisideasastotheestablishmentofacentralstationintheworkthatculminatedinNewYorkCityin1882。Afterhehadconceivedthebroadplan，hisambitionwastocreatetheinitialplantonManhattanIsland，whereitwouldbeconvenientofaccessforwatchingitsoperation，andwherethedemonstrationofitspracticabilitywouldhaveinfluenceinfinancialcircles。ThefirstintentionwastocoveradistrictextendingfromCanalStreetonthenorthtoWallStreetonthesouth；
butEdisonsoonrealizedthatthisterritorywastooextensivefortheinitialexperiment，andhedecidedfinallyuponthedistrictincludedbetweenWall，Nassau，Spruce，andFerrystreets，PeckSlipandtheEastRiver，anareanearlyasquaremileinextent。
Oneofthepreliminarystepstakentoenablehimtofigureonsuchastationandsystemwastohavemengothroughthisdistrictonvariousdaysandnotethenumberofgasjetsburningateachhouruptotwoorthreeo'clockinthemorning。Thenextstepwastodividetheregionintoanumberofsub-districtsandinstituteahouse-to-housecanvasstoascertainpreciselythedataandconditionspertinenttotheproject。
Whenthecanvasswasover，Edisonknewexactlyhowmanygasjetstherewereineverybuildingintheentiredistrict，theaveragehoursofburning，andthecostoflight；alsoeveryconsumerofpower，andthequantityused；everyhoistwaytowhichanelectricmotorcouldbeapplied；andotherdetailstoonumeroustomention，suchasrelatedtothegasitself，thesatisfactionofthecustomers，andthelimitationsofdayandnightdemand。Allthisinformationwasembodiedgraphicallyinlargemapsofthedistrict，byannotationsincoloredinks；andEdisonthuscouldstudythequestionwitheverydetailbeforehim。Suchareconnaissance，likethatofacomingfieldofbattle，wasinvaluable，andmayhelpgiveafurtherideaoftheman'sinveteratecarefortheminutiaeofthings。
Thelaboratorynote-booksofthisperiod——1878-
80，moreparticularly——showanimmenseamountofcalculationbyEdisonandhischiefmathematician，Mr。Upton，onconductorsforthedistributionofcurrentoverlargeareas，andthenlaterinthedistrictdescribed。Withtheresultsofthiscanvassbeforethem，thesizesofthemainconductorstobelaidthroughoutthestreetsofthisentireterritorywerefigured，blockbyblock；andtheresultswerethenplacedonthemap。Thesedatarevealedthefactthatthequantityofcopperrequiredforthemainconductorswouldbeexceedinglylargeandcostly；
and，ifever，Edisonwassomewhatdismayed。Butasusualthisapparentlyinsurmountabledifficultyonlyspurredhimontofurthereffort。Itwasbutashorttimethereafterthathesolvedtheknottyproblembyaninventionmentionedinapreviouschapter。
Thisisknownasthe“feederandmain“system，forwhichhesignedtheapplicationforapatentonAugust4，1880。Asthisinventioneffectedasavingofseven-eighthsofthecostofthechiefconductorsinastraightmultiplearcsystem，themainsforthefirstdistrictwererefigured，andenormousnewmapsweremade，whichbecamethefinalbasisofactualinstallation，astheyweresubsequentlyenlargedbytheadditionofeveryproposedjunction-box，bridgesafety-catchbox，andstreet-intersectionboxinthewholearea。
Whenthispatent，afterprotractedfighting，wassustainedbyJudgeGreenin1893，theElectricalEngineerremarkedthattheGeneralElectricCompany“mustcertainlyfeelelated“becauseofitsimportance；andthejournalexpresseditsfearthatalthoughthespecificationsandclaimsrelatedonlytothemaintenanceofuniformpressureofcurrentonlightingcircuits，theownersmightnaturallyseektoapplyitalsotofeedersusedintheelectric-railwayworkalreadysoextensive。Atthistime，however，thepatenthadonlyaboutayearoflifeleft，owingtotheexpirationofthecorrespondingEnglishpatent。
Thefactthatthirteenyearshadelapsedgivesavividideaoftheordealinvolvedinsustainingapatentandtheinjusticetotheinventor，whilethereisobviouslyhardshiptothosewhocannottellfromanydecisionofthecourtwhethertheyareinfringingornot。ItisinterestingtonotethatthepreparationforhearingthiscaseinNewJerseywasaccompaniedbymodelstoshowthecourtexactlythemethodanditseconomy，asworkedoutincomparisonwithwhatisknownasthe“treesystem“ofcircuits——theolderalternativewayofdoingit。Asabasisofcomparison，adistrictofthirty-sixcityblocksintheformofasquarewasassumed。Thepowerstationwasplacedatthecentreofthesquare；eachblockhadsixteenconsumersusingfifteenlightseach。Conductorswererunfromthestationtosupplyeachofthefourquartersofthedistrictwithlight。Inoneexamplethe“feeder“
systemwasused；intheotherthe“tree。“Withthesemodelswereshowntwocubeswhichrepresentedoneone-hundredthoftheactualquantityofcopperrequiredforeachquarterofthedistrictbythetwo-wiretreesystemascomparedwiththefeedersystemunderlikeconditions。Thetotalweightofcopperforthefourquarterdistrictsbythetreesystemwas803，250pounds，butwhenthefeedersystemwasuseditwasonly128，739pounds！Thiswasareductionfrom$23。24perlampforcopperto$3。72perlamp。Othermodelsemphasizedthisextraordinarycontrast。AtthetimeEdisonwasdoingthisworkoneconomizinginconductors，muchofthecriticismagainsthimwasbasedontheassumedextravagantuseofcopperimpliedintheobvious“tree“system，anditwasverynaturallysaidthattherewasnotenoughcopperintheworldtosupplyhisdemands。Itistruethatthemodernelectricalartshavebeenagreatstimulatorofcopperproduction，nowtakingaquarterofallmade；yetevidentlybutforsuchinventionsasthissuchartscouldnothavecomeintoexistenceatall，orelseingrowinguptheywouldhaveforcedcoppertostarvationprices。[11]
[11]FordescriptionoffeederpatentseeAppendix。
ItshouldbeborneinmindthatfromtheoutsetEdisonhaddetermineduponinstallingundergroundconductorsastheonlypermanentandsatisfactorymethodforthedistributionofcurrentfromcentralstationsincities；andthatatMenloParkhelaidoutandoperatedsuchasystemwithaboutfourhundredandtwenty-fivelamps。Theundergroundsystemtherewaslimitedtotheimmediatevicinityofthelaboratoryandwassomewhatcrude，aswellasmuchlesscomplicatedthanwouldbethenetworkofovereightythousandlinealfeet，whichhecalculatedtoberequiredfortheundergroundcircuitsinthefirstdistrictofNewYorkCity。AtMenloParknoeffortwasmadeforpermanency；noprovisionwasneededinregardtooccasionalopeningsofthestreetforvariouspurposes；nonewcustomersweretobeconnectedfromtimetotimetothemains，andnorepairswerewithincontemplation。InNewYorkthequestionofpermanencywasofparamountimportance，andtheothercontingenciesweresuretoariseaswellasconditionsmoreeasytoimaginethantoforestall。
Theseproblemswereallattackedinaresolute，thoroughgoingmanner，andonebyonesolvedbytheinventionofnewandunprecedenteddevicesthatwereadequateforthepurposesofthetime，andwhichareembodiedinapparatusofslightmodificationinuseuptothepresentday。
Justwhatallthismeansitishardforthepresentgenerationtoimagine。NewYorkandalltheothergreatcitiesin1882，andforsomeyearsthereafter，wereburdenedanddarkenedbyhideousmassesofoverheadwirescarriedonuglywoodenpolesalongallthemainthoroughfares。Oneafteranotherrivaltelegraphandtelephone，stockticker，burglar-alarm，andothercompanieshadstrungtheircircuitswithoutanysupervisionorrestriction；andthesewiresinallconditionsofsagordecayramifiedandcrisscrossedineverydirection，oftenhangingbrokenandloose-endedformonths，therebeingnoofficialcompulsiontoremoveanydeadwire。Noneofthesecircuitscarrieddangerouscurrents；buttheintroductionofthearclightbroughtanentirelynewmenaceintheuseofpressuresthatwereevenworsethanthebullyoftheWestwho“killsonsight，“becausethiskindredperilwasinvisible，andmightlurkanywhere。Newpoleswereputup，andthelightingcircuitsonthem，withbutaslightinsulationofcottonimpregnatedwithsome“weather-proof“compound，straggledalloverthecityexposedtowindandrainandaccidentalcontactwithotherwires，orwiththemetalofbuildings。
Somanyfatalitiesoccurredthattheinsulatedwireused，called“underwriters，“becauseapprovedbytheinsurancebodies，becamejocularlyknownas“undertakers，“andeffortsweremadetoimproveitsprotectivequalities。Thencametheoverheadcircuitsfordistributingelectricalenergytomotorsforoperatingelevators，drivingmachinery，etc。，andthese，whileusingalower，saferpotential，wereproportionatelylarger。Therewerenowiresunderground。
Morsehadtriedthatattheverybeginningofelectricalapplication，intelegraphy，andallagreedthatrenewalsoftheexperimentwereatoncecostlyandfoolish。Atlast，incitieslikeNewYork，whatmaybestyledgenericallythe“overheadsystem“ofwiresbrokedownunderitsownweight；andvariousmethodsofundergroundconductorsweretried，hastenedinmanyplacesbythechoppingdownofpolesandwiresastheresultofsomeaccidentthatstirredthepublicindignation。OnetypicaltragicscenewasthatinNewYork，where，withinsightoftheCityHall，alinemanwaskilledathisworkonthearclightpole，andhisbodyslowlyroastedbeforethegazeoftheexcitedpopulace，whichfordaysafterwarddroppeditssilverandcoppercoinintothealms-boxnailedtothefatalpoleforthebenefitofhisfamily。
OutofallthisinNewYorkcameaboardofelectricalcontrol，aconduitsystem，andinthefinalanalysisthePublicServiceCommission，thatiscreditedtoGovernorHughesasthefurthestdevelopmentofutilitycorporationcontrol。
The“roadtoyesterday“backtoEdisonandhisinsistenceonundergroundwiresisalongone，buttheprecedingparagraphtracesit。Evenadmittingthatthesizeandweightofhislow-tensionconductorsnecessitatedputtingthemunderground，thisarguesnothingagainsttheproprietyandsanityofhismethods。Hebelieveddeeplyandfirmlyintheanalogybetweenelectricalsupplyandthatforwaterandgas，andpointedtothetritefactthatnobodyhoistedthewaterandgasmainsintotheaironstilts，andthatnoneofthepressureswereinimicaltohumansafety。Thearc-lightingmethodswereunconsciouslyandunwittinglypropheticofthelatter-daylong-distancetransmissionsathighpressurethat，electrically，haveplacedtheenergyofNiagaraatthecommandofSyracuseandUtica，andhaveputthepowerofthefallingwatersoftheSierrasatthedisposalofSanFrancisco，twohundredmilesaway。
Butwithincitylimitsoverheadwires，withsuchspace-consumingpotentials，areasfraughtwithmischievousperiltothepublicasthedynamitestoredbyanonchalantcontractorinthecellarofaschoolhouse。
Asanoffset，then，toanytendencytodepreciatetheintrinsicvalueofEdison'slightingwork，lettheclaimbeheresetforthmodestlyandsubjecttointerference，thathewasthefatherofunder-
groundwiresinAmerica，andbyhisexampleoutlinedthepolicynowdominantineverycityofthefirstrank。Eventhecommentofacynicinregardtoelectricaldevelopmentmaybeaccepted：“Someelectricalcompanieswantedalltheair；othersapparentlyhaduseforallthewater；Edisononlyaskedfortheearth。“
ThelateJacobHess，afamousNewYorkRepublicanpolitician，wasamemberofthecommissionappointedtoputthewiresundergroundinNewYorkCity，inthe“eighties。“Hestatedthatwhenthecommissionwasstrugglingwiththeproblem，andexaminingallkindsofdevicesandplans，patentedandunpatented，forwhichfabuloussumswereoftenasked，thebodyturnedtoEdisoninitsperplexityandaskedforadvice。Edisonsaid：“Allyouhavetodo，gentlemen，istoinsulateyourwires，drawthemthroughthecheapestthingonearth——ironpipe——runyourpipesthroughchannelsorgalleriesunderthestreet，andyou'vegotthewholethingdone。“Thiswaspracticallythesystemadoptedandinusetothisday。WhatpuzzledtheoldpoliticianwasthatEdisonwouldacceptnothingforhisadvice。
AnotherstorymayalsobeinterpolatedhereastotheundergroundworkdoneinNewYorkforthefirstEdisonstation。Itreferstothe“manhigherup，“
althoughthephrasehadnotbeencoinedinthosedaysoflowerpublicmorality。Thatacorporationshouldbe“heldup“wasacceptedphilosophicallybythecorporationasoneoftheunavoidableincidentsofitsbusiness；andifthecorporation“gotback“bysecuringsomeprivilegewithoutpayingforit，thepublicwasreadytocondoneifnotapplaud。Publicutilitieswereinthemaking，andnooneinparticularhadakeensenseofwhatwasrightorwhatwaswrong，inthehard，practicaldetailsoftheirdevelopment。Edisontellsthisilluminatingstory：“WhenIwaslayingtubesinthestreetsofNewYork，theofficereceivednoticefromtheCommissionerofPublicWorkstoappearathisofficeatacertainhour。IwentuptherewithagentlemantoseetheCommissioner，H。O。Thompson。Onarrivalhesaidtome：`Youareputtingdownthesetubes。TheDepartmentofPublicWorksrequiresthatyoushouldhavefiveinspectorstolookafterthiswork，andthattheirsalaryshallbe$5perday，payableattheendofeachweek。
Good-morning。'Iwentoutverymuchcrestfallen，thinkingIwouldbedelayedandharassedintheworkwhichIwasanxioustofinish，andwasdoingnightandday。Wewatchedpatientlyforthoseinspectorstoappear。TheonlyappearancetheymadewastodrawtheirpaySaturdayafternoon。“
JustbeforeChristmasin1880——December17——asanitemforthesilkstockingofFatherKnickerbocker——theEdisonElectricIlluminatingCompanyofNewYorkwasorganized。InpursuanceofthepolicyadheredtobyEdison，alicensewasissuedtoitfortheexclusiveuseofthesysteminthatterritory——ManhattanIsland——inconsiderationofacertainsumofmoneyandafixedpercentageofitscapitalinstockforthepatentrights。Earlyin1881itwasaltogetherapaperenterprise，buteventsmovedswiftlyasnarratedalready，andonJune25，1881，thefirst“Jumbo“
prototypeofthedynamo-electricmachinestogen-
eratecurrentatthePearlStreetstationwasputthroughitspacesbeforebeingshippedtoParistofurnishnewsensationstotheflaneuroftheboulevards。
AnumberoftheEdisonofficersandemployeesassembledatGoerckStreettoseethis“gigantic“
machinegointoaction，andwatcheditsperformancewithduereverenceallthroughthenightuntilfiveo'clockonSundaymorning，whenitrespectedtheconventionalitiesbybreakingashaftandsuspendingfurthertests。AfterthisdynamowasshippedtoFrance，anditssuccessorstoEnglandfortheHolbornViaductplant，Edisonmadestillfurtherimprovementsindesign，increasingcapacityandeconomy，andthenproceededvigorouslywithsixmachinesforPearlStreet。
Anideallocationforanycentralstationisattheverycentreofthedistrictserved。Itmaybequestionedwhetheritoftengoesthere。IntheNewYorkfirstdistrictthenearestpropertyavailablewasadoublebuildingatNos。255and257PearlStreet，occupyingalotsoby100feet。Itwasfourstorieshigh，withafire-walldividingitintotwoequalparts。
Oneofthesepartswasconvertedfortheusesofthestationproper，andtheotherwasusedasatube-shopbytheundergroundconstructiondepartment，aswellasforrepair-shops，storage，etc。Thosewerethedayswhennoonebuiltanewedificeforstationpurposes；
thatwouldhavebeendeemedafantasticextravagance。
OneearlystationinNewYorkforarclightingwasanoldsoap-workswhosewell-soakedfloorsdidnotneedmuchadditionalgreasetorenderthemchoicefuelfortheinevitableflames。InthisPearlStreetinstance，thebuilding，erectedoriginallyforcommercialuses，wasquiteincapableofsustainingtheweightoftheheavydynamosandsteam-enginestobeinstalledonthesecondfloor；sotheoldflooringwastornoutandanewoneofheavygirderssupportedbystiffcolumnswassubstituted。Thisheavyconstruction，morefamiliarnowadays，andnotunlikethesupportingmetalstructureoftheManhattanElevatedroad，waserectedindependentoftheenclosingwalls，andoccupiedthefullwidthof257PearlStreet，andaboutthree-quartersofitsdepth。Thischangeintheinternalarrangementsdidnotatallaffecttheuglyexternalappearance，whichdidlittletosuggestthestatelyandornatestationssinceputupbytheNewYorkEdisonCompany，thelatestoccupyingwholecityblocks。
OfthisepisodeEdisongivesthefollowingaccount：
“WhileplanningformyfirstNewYorkstation——
PearlStreet——ofcourse，Ihadnorealestate，andfromlackofexperiencehadverylittleknowledgeofitscostinNewYork；soIassumedaratherlarge，liberalamountofittoplanmystationon。ItoccurredtomeonedaythatbeforeIwenttoofarwithmyplansIhadbetterfindoutwhatrealestatewasworth。InmyoriginalplanIhad200by200feet。
Ithoughtthatbygoingdownonaslumstreetnearthewater-frontIwouldgetsomeprettycheapproperty。
SoIpickedouttheworstdilapidatedstreettherewas，andfoundIcouldonlygettwobuildings，each25feetfront，one100feetdeepandtheother85feetdeep。Ithoughtabout$10，000eachwouldcoverit；butwhenIgotthepriceIfoundthattheywanted$75，000foroneand$80，000fortheother。
ThenIwascompelledtochangemyplansandgoupwardintheairwhererealestatewascheap。I
clearedoutthebuildingentirelytothewallsandbuiltmystationofstructuralironwork，runningituphigh。“
Intothisconvertedstructurewasputthemostcompletesteamplantobtainable，togetherwithallthemechanicalandengineeringadjunctsbearinguponeconomicalandsuccessfuloperation。Beinginanarrowstreetandacongesteddistrict，theplantneededspecialfacilitiesforthehandlingofcoalandashes，aswellasforventilationandforceddraught。
AllofthesedetailsreceivedMr。Edison'spersonalcareandconsiderationonthespot，inadditiontothemultitudeofotheraffairsdemandinghisthought。
Althoughnotasteamormechanicalengineer，hisquickgraspofprinciplesandomnivorousreadinghadsoonsuppliedthelackoftraining；norhadheforgottenthepracticalexperiencepickedupasaboyonthelocomotivesoftheGrandTrunkroad。Itistobenoticedasafeatureoftheplant，incommonwithmanyoflaterconstruction，thatitwasplacedwellawayfromthewater'sedge，andequippedwithnon-condensingengines；whereasthemodernplantinvariablyseeksthebankofariverorlakeforthepurposeofageneroussupplyofwaterforitscondensingenginesorsteam-turbines。Theseareamongtherefinementsofpracticecoincidentalwiththeadvanceoftheart。
AttheawardoftheJohnFritzgoldmedalinApril，1909，toCharlesT。Porterforhisworkinadvancingtheknowledgeofsteam-engineering，andforimprovementsinengineconstruction，Mr。FrankJ。SpraguespokeonbehalfoftheAmericanInstituteofElectricalEngineersofthedebtofelectricitytothehigh-speedsteam-engine。HerecalledthefactthatattheFrenchExpositionof1867Mr。PorterinstalledtwoPorter-Allenenginestodriveelectricalternating-currentgeneratorsforsupplyingcurrenttoprimitivelighthouseapparatus。Whiletheengineswerenotdirectlycoupledtothedynamos，itwasacuriousfactthatthepistonspeedsandnumberofrevolutionswerewhatiscommonto-dayinisolateddirect-coupledplants。InthedozenyearsfollowingMr。Porterbuiltmanyengineswithcertaincommoncharacteristics——
i。e。，highpistonspeedandrevolutions，solidenginebed，andbabbitt-metalbearings；buttherewasnoelectricdrivinguntil1880，whenMr。Porterinstalledahigh-speedengineforEdisonathislaboratoryinMenloPark。ShortlyafterthishewasinvitedtoconstructfortheEdisonPearlStreetstationthefirstofaseriesofenginesforso-called“steam-dynamos，“
eachindependentlydrivenbyadirect-coupledengine。
Mr。Spraguecomparedtherelationsthusestablishedbetweenelectricityandthehigh-speedenginenottothoseofdebtorandcreditor，butrathertothoseofpartners——anindustrialmarriage——oneofthemostimportantintheengineeringworld。Hereweretwomachinesdestinedtobejoinedtogether，economizingspace，enhancingeconomy，augmentingcapacity，reducinginvestment，andincreasingdividends。
Whilerapidprogresswasbeingmadeinthisandotherdirections，thewheelsofindustrywerehum-
mingmerrilyattheEdisonTubeWorks，foroverfifteenmilesoftubeconductorswererequiredforthedistrict，besidestheboxestoconnectthenetworkatthestreetintersections，andthehundredsofjunctionboxesfortakingtheserviceconductorsintoeachofthehundredsofbuildings。Inadditiontotheimmenseamountofmoneyinvolved，thisspecializedindustryrequiredanenormousamountofexperiment，asitcalledforthedevelopmentofanentirelynewart。ButwithEdison'sinventivefertility——ifevertherewasacross-fertilizerofmechanicalideasitishe——andwithMr。Kruesi'snever-failingpatienceandperseveranceappliedtoexperimentandevolution，rapidprogresswasmade。Afranchisehavingbeenobtainedfromthecity，theworkoflayingtheundergroundconductorsbeganinthelatefallof1881，andwaspushedwithalmostfranticenergy。Itisnottobesupposed，however，thattheEdisontubesystemhadthenreachedafinalityofperfectionintheeyesofitsinventor。InhiscorrespondencewithKruesi，aslateas1887，wefindEdisonbewailingtheinadequacyoftheinsulationoftheconductorsundertwelvehundredvoltspressure，asforexample：
“DearKruesi，——Thereisnothingwrongwithyourpresentcompound。Itissplendid。Thewholetroubleisair-bubbles。Thehotteritispouredthegreatertheamountofair-bubbles。At212itcanbeputonrodsandthereisnobubble。Ihaveamanexperimentingandtestingallthetime。UntilIgetatthepropermethodofpouringandgettingridoftheair-bubbles，itwillbewasteoftimetoexperimentwithotherasphalts。Resinoildistilsoffeasily。Itmayanswer，butparaffineorothersimilarsubstancesmustbeputintopreventbrittleness，Onethingiscertain，andthatis，everythingmustbepouredinlayers，notonlytheboxes，butthetubes。Thetubeitselfshouldhaveathincoating。Theropeshouldalsohaveacoating。Therodsalso。Thewholelot，rodsandrope，whenreadyfortube，shouldhaveanothercoat，andthenbeplacedintubeandfilled。
Thiswilldothebusiness。“Broadandlargeasacontinentinhisideas，ifevertherewasamanoffinicalfussinessinattentiontodetail，itisEdison。
Aletterofsevenpagesofaboutthesamedatein1887expatiatesonthevicioustroublescausedbytheair-bubble，andremarkswithfineinsightintotheproblemsofinsulationandtheideaoflayersofit：
“Thusyouhavethreeseparatecoatings，anditisimpossibleanair-holeinoneshouldmatchtheother。“
ToamanlessthoroughandempiricalinmethodthanEdison，itwouldhavebeensufficienttohavemadehisplanscleartoassociatesorsubordinatesandholdthemresponsibleforaccurateresults。Nosuchvicarioustreatmentwouldsuithim，readyashehasalwaysbeentosharetheworkwherehecouldgivehistrust。Infactherealized，asnooneelsedidatthisstage，thetremendousimportofthisnovelandcomprehensiveschemeforgivingtheworldlight；andhewouldnotletgo，evenifbusytothebreaking-point。Thoughplungedinaveritablemaelstromofnewandimportantbusinessinterests，andthoughapplyingfornofewerthaneighty-ninepatentsin1881，allofwhichweregranted，hesuperintendedonthespotallthislayingofundergroundconductorsforthefirstdistrict。Nordidhemerelystandaroundandgiveorders。Dayandnightheactuallyworkedinthetrencheswiththelaborers，amidthedirtandpaving-stonesandhurry-burlyoftraffic，helpingtolaythetubes，fillingupjunction-boxes，andtakingpartinalltheinfinitedetail。Hewantedtoknowforhimselfhowthingswent，whyforsomeoccultreasonalittlechangewasnecessary，whatimprovementcouldbemadeinthematerial。Hishoursofworkwerenotregulatedbytheclock，butlasteduntilhefelttheneedofalittlerest。ThenhewouldgoofftothestationbuildinginPearlStreet，throwanovercoatonapileoftubes，liedownandsleepforafewhours，risingtoresumeworkwiththefirstgang。
Therewasasmallbedroomonthethirdfloorofthestationavailableforhim，butgoingtobedmeantdelayandconsumedtime。Itisnowonderthatsuchimpatience，suchanenthusiasm，drovetheworkforwardataheadlongpace。
Edisonsaysofthisperiod：“WhenweputdownthetubesinthelowerpartofNewYork，inthestreets，wekeptabigstockoftheminthecellarofthestationatPearlStreet。AsIwasonallthetime，Iwouldtakeanapofanhourorsointhedaytime——
anytime——andIusedtosleeponthosetubesinthecellar。IhadtwoGermanswhoweretestingthere，andbothofthemdiedofdiphtheria，caughtinthecellar，whichwascoldanddamp。Itneveraffectedme。“
Itisworthpausingjustamomenttoglanceatthismantakingafitfulrestonapileofironpipeinadingybuilding。Hisnameisonthetipoftheworld'stongue。DistinguishedscientistsfromeverypartofEuropeseekhimeagerly。HehasjustbeendecoratedandawardedhighhonorsbytheFrenchGovernment。
Heistheinventorofwonderfulnewapparatus，andtheexploiterofnovelandsuccessfularts。Themagicofhisachievementsandtherumorsofwhatisbeingdonehavecausedawilddropingassecurities，andasensationalriseinhisownelectric-lightstockfrom$100to$3500ashare。Yetthesethingsdonotatallaffecthisslumberorhisdemocraticsimplicity，forinthat，asineverythingelse，heisattendingstrictlytobusiness，“doingthethingthatisnexttohim。“
Partoftherushandfeverishhastewasduetotheapproachoffrost，which，asusualinNewYork，suspendedoperationsintheearth；butthelayingoftheconductorswasresumedpromptlyinthespringof1882；andmeantimeotherworkhadbeenadvanced。
Duringthefallandwintermonthstwomore“Jumbo“dynamoswerebuiltandsenttoLondon，afterwhichtheconstructionofsixforNewYorkwasswiftlytakeninhand。InthemonthofMaythreeofthesemachines，eachwithacapacityoftwelvehundredincandescentlamps，weredeliveredatPearlStreetandassembledonthesecondfloor。
OnJuly5th——owingtothebetteropportunityforceaselesstoilgivenbyapublicholiday——theconstructionoftheoperativepartofthestationwassofarcompletedthatthefirstofthedynamoswasoperatedundersteam；sothatthreedayslaterthesatisfactoryexperimentwasmadeofthrowingitsfloodofelectricalenergyintoabankofonethousandlampsonanupperfloor。Othertestsfollowedinduecourse。Allwasexcitement。Thefield-regulatingapparatusandtheelectrical-pressureindicator——firstofitskind——werealsotested，andinturnfoundsatisfactory。Anothervitaltestwasmadeatthistime——
namely，ofthestrengthoftheironstructureitselfonwhichtheplantwaserected。Thiswasdonebytwostructuralexperts；andnottillhegottheirreportastoamplefactorsofsafetywasEdisonreassuredastothisdetail。
AremarkofEdison，familiartoallwhohaveworkedwithhim，whenitisreportedtohimthatsomethingnewgoesallrightandissatisfactoryfromallpointsofview，is：“Well，boys，nowlet'sfindthebugs，“andthehuntforthephylloxerabeginswithfiendish，remorselesszest。Beforestartingtheplantforregularcommercialservice，hebeganpersonallyaseriesofpracticalexperimentsandteststoascertaininadvancewhatdifficultieswouldactuallyariseinpractice，sothathecouldprovideremediesorpreventives。Hehadseveralcotsplacedintheadjoiningbuilding，andheandafewofhismoststrenuousassistantsworkeddayandnight，leavingtheworkonlyforhurriedmealsandasnatchofsleep。Thesecrucialtests，aimingvirtuallytobreaktheplantdownifpossiblewithinpredeterminedconditions，lastedseveralweeks，andwhilemostvaluableintheinformationtheyafforded，didnothinderanything，formeantimecustomers'premisesthroughoutthedistrictwerebeingwiredandsuppliedwithlampsandmeters。
OnMonday，September4，1882，at3o'clock，P。M。，Edisonrealizedtheconsummationofhisbroadandoriginalscheme。ThePearlStreetstationwasofficiallystartedbyadmittingsteamtotheengineofoneofthe“Jumbos，“currentwasgenerated，turnedintothenetworkofundergroundconductors，andwastransformedintolightbytheincandescentlampsthathadthusfarbeeninstalled。Thisdateandeventmayproperlyberegardedashistorical，fortheymarkthepracticalbeginningofanewart，whichintheinterveningyearshasgrownprodigiously，andisstillincreasingbyleapsandbounds。
Everythingworkedsatisfactorilyinthemain。
Therewereafewmechanicalandengineeringannoyancesthatmightnaturallybeexpectedtoariseinanewandunprecedentedenterprise；butnothingofsufficientmomenttointerferewiththesteadyandcontinuoussupplyofcurrenttocustomersatallhoursofthedayandnight。Indeed，oncestarted，thisstationwasoperateduninterruptedlyforeightyearswithonlyinsignificantstoppage。
Itwillhavebeennotedbythereaderthattherewasnothingtoindicaterashnessinstartingupthestation，asonlyonedynamowasputinoperation。
Withinashorttime，however，itwasdeemeddesirabletosupplytheundergroundnetworkwithmorecurrent，asmanyadditionalcustomershadbeenconnectedandthedemandforthenewlightwasincreasingveryrapidly。AlthoughEdisonhadsuccessfullyoperatedseveraldynamosinmultiplearctwoyearsbefore——i。e。，allfeedingcurrenttogetherintothesamecircuits——therewasnot，atthisearlyperiodofexperience，anyabsolutecertaintyastowhatparticularresultsmightoccuruponthethrowingofthecurrentfromtwoormoresuchmassivedynamosintoagreatdistributingsystem。ThesequelshowedthevalueofEdison'scautiousmethodinstartingthestationbyoperatingonlyasingleunitatfirst。
Hedecidedthatitwouldbewisetomakethetrialoperationofasecond“Jumbo“onaSunday，whenbusinesshouseswereclosedinthedistrict，thusobviatinganydangeroffalseimpressionsinthepublicmindintheeventofanyextraordinarymanifestations。
ThecircumstancesattendingtheaddingofaseconddynamoarethushumorouslydescribedbyEdison：“Myheartwasinmymouthatfirst，buteverythingworkedallright……Thenwestartedanotherengineandthrewtheminparallel。OfallthecircusessinceAdamwasborn，wehadtheworstthen！Oneenginewouldstop，andtheotherwouldrunuptoaboutathousandrevolutions，andthentheywouldsee-saw。Thetroublewaswiththegovernors。
Whenthecircuscommenced，thegangthatwasstandingaroundranoutprecipitately，andI
guesssomeofthemkeptrunningforablockortwo。
Igrabbedthethrottleofoneengine，andE。H。Johnson，whowastheonlyonepresenttokeephiswits，caughtholdoftheother，andweshutthemoff。“
Oneofthe“gang“thatran，but，inthiscase，onlytotheendoftheroom，afterwardsaid：“Atthetimeitwasaterrifyingexperience，asIdidn'tknowwhatwasgoingtohappen。Theenginesanddynamosmadeahorribleracket，fromloudanddeepgroanstoahideousshriek，andtheplaceseemedtobefilledwithsparksandflamesofallcolors。Itwasasifthegatesoftheinfernalregionshadbeensuddenlyopened。“
ThistroublewasatonceattackedbyEdisoninhischaracteristicandstrenuousway。Theaboveexperimenttookplacebetweenthreeandfouro'clockonaSundayafternoon，andwithinafewhourshehadgatheredhissuperintendentandmenofthemachine-
worksandhadthematworkonashaftingdevicethathethoughtwouldremedythetrouble。Hesays：
“Ofcourse，Idiscoveredthatwhathadhappenedwasthatonesetwasrunningtheotherasamotor。
Ithenputupalongshaft，connectingallthegovernorstogether，andthoughtthiswouldcertainlycurethetrouble；butitdidn't。Thetorsionoftheshaftwassogreatthatonegovernorstillmanagedtogetaheadoftheothers。Well，itwasaseriousstateofthings，andIworriedoveritalot。FinallyIwentdowntoGoerckStreetandgotapieceofshaftingandatubeinwhichitfitted。ItwistedtheshaftingonewayandthetubetheotherasfarasI
could，andpinnedthemtogether。Inthisway，bystrainingthewholeoutfituptoitselasticlimitinoppositedirections，thetorsionwaspracticallyeliminated，andafterthatthegovernorsrantogetherallright。“
Edisonrealized，however，thatincommercialpracticethiswasonlyatemporaryexpedient，andthatasatisfactorypermanenceofresultscouldonlybeattainedwithmoreperfectenginesthatcouldbedependeduponforcloseandsimpleregulation。Theenginesthatweremadepartofthefirstthree“Jum-
bos“placedinthestationweretheverybestthatcouldbeobtainedatthetime，andeventhenhadbeenspeciallydesignedandbuiltforthepurpose。
OncemorequotingEdisononthissubject：“Aboutthattime“whenhewastryingtorunseveraldynamosinparallelinthePearlStreetstation“IgotholdofGardinerC。Sims，andheundertooktobuildanenginetorunatthreehundredandfiftyrevolutionsandgiveonehundredandseventy-fivehorse-power。
HewentbacktoProvidenceandsettowork，andbroughttheenginebackwithhimtotheshop。Itworkedonlyafewminuteswhenitbusted。Thatmansataroundthatshopandsleptinitforthreeweeks，untilhegothisenginerightandmadeitworkthewayhewanteditto。WhenhereachedthisperiodIgaveordersfortheengine-workstorunnightanddayuntilwegotenoughengines，andwhenallwasreadywestartedtheengines。Theneverythingworkedallright……OneoftheseenginesthatSimsbuiltrantwenty-fourhoursaday，threehundredandsixty-fivedaysintheyear，foroverayearbeforeitstopped。“[12]
[12]WequotethefollowinginterestingnotesofMr。CharlesL。
Clarkeonthequestionofsee-sawing，or“hunting，“asitwasafterwardtermed：
“IntheHolbornViaductstationthedifficultyof`hunting'
wasnotexperienced。Atthetimethe`Jumbos'werefirstoperatedinmultiplearc，April8，1882，onemachinewasdrivenbyaPorter-Allenengine，andtheotherbyanArmington&Simsengine，andbothmachineswereonasolidfoundation。AtthestationatMilan，Italy，thefirst`Jumbos'operatedinmultiplearcweredrivenbyPorter-Allenengines，anddash-potswereappliedtothegovernors。Thesemachineswerealsouponasolidfoundation，andnotroublewasexperienced。
“AtthePearlStreetstation，however，themachinesweresup-
porteduponlongironfloor-beams，andatthehighspeedof350
revolutionsperminute，considerableverticalvibrationwasgiventotheengines。Andthewriterisinclinedtotheopinionthatthisvibration，actinginthesamedirectionastheactionofgravitation，whichwasoneofthetwocontrollingforcesintheoperationofthePorter-Allengovernor，wastheprimarycauseofthe`hunting。'IntheArmington&Simsenginethecontrollingforcesintheoperationofthegovernorwerethecentrifugalforceofrevolvingweights，andtheopposingforceofcompressedsprings，andneithertheactionofgravitationnortheverticalvibrationsoftheenginecouldhaveanysensibleeffectuponthegovernor，“
ThePearlStreetstation，asthisfirstlargeplantwascalled，maderapidandcontinuousgrowthinitsoutputofelectriccurrent。Itstarted，aswehavesaid，onSeptember4，1882，supplyingaboutfourhundredlightstoacomparativelysmallnumberofcustomers。AmongthosefirstsuppliedwasthebankingfirmofDrexel，Morgan&Company，cornerofBroadandWallstreets，attheoutermostlimitsofthesystem。BeforetheendofDecemberofthesameyearthelighthadsogrowninfavorthatitwasbeingsuppliedtoovertwohundredandfortycustomerswhosebuildingswerewiredforoverfivethousandlamps。Bythistimethreemore“Jumbos“hadbeenaddedtotheplant。Theoutputfromthistimeforwardincreasedsteadilyuptothespringof1884，whenthedemandsofthestationnecessitatedtheinstallationoftwoadditional“Jumbos“intheadjoiningbuilding，which，withthevenousimprovementsthathadbeenmadeinthemeantime，gavethestationacapacityofovereleventhousandlampsactuallyinserviceatanyonetime。