REVIEW

The Henry Dry Cell.-The General Electric Company have lately introduced into the market the Henry dry cell, which they find to be thoroughly reliable and in all respects to meet the demand for a clean, compact and convenient battery for portable, outdoor and transport purposes.

Institution of Electrical Engineers Students. - A general meeting of the students of the institution was held on Friday, April 24th, when a paper was read by Mr. G. U. Yule on 66 Alternate Current Motors." The next meeting will be held on Friday, May 8th.

Central Station in Christiania.-A central station is projected for this town for 4,000 lamps, the plant to be on the three-wire system. The station is to be contracted for by tender, and the competition will shortly be opened.

Liquidations.-Notices have appeared in the Gazette that the Electro-Metallurgical Company, Limited, and the Electrical Engineering Corporation, Limited, have resolved to be wound up voluntarily. Mr. John James Bedney Arter, of 26, Waterloo Street, Birmingham, is appointed liquidator in the first case, and Mr. Francis William Pixley, of 24, Moorgate Street, London, in the other.

Cuttriss, Wallis and Company, Limited.-Messrs. Cuttriss & Co., of the Elmwood Electrical Works, Leeds, announce that, owing to the rapid increase of their business, they have augmented their manufacturing resources by taking over the general engineering business of Mr. E. C. Wallis, of 1, Bond Place, Leeds, the whole being incorporated into a limited liability company.

O. S. A. Smoking-Concert.-On Friday, 24th inst., the last of the series of smoking concerts given by the Old Students Association was held at Masons Hall Tavern. A most excellent programme was provided, very high class music being given both vocally and instrumentally, while at the same time most excellent humorous selections were given. A vote of thanks was passed to the Musical Committee at the close of the evening for their successful efforts in getting up such an excellent series of concerts.

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Corporation. From the minutes of the board of directors of the Royal Infirmary it appeared that the directors had met specially in conference with Professor Andrew Jamieson, of Glasgow, relative to the introduction of the system of electric lighting, the supply of steam for the same, also for cooking and heating purposes, &c., when, after hearing the professor at some length, and having examined a sketch plan showing the accommodation held by him to be essential for the full engineering plant, they unanimously resolved to "instruct the architects, in consultation with Professor Jamieson, to prepare the necessary detailed plans, showing chimney stalk, and to take the required steps for carrying out the work of introducing the electric light, and forwarding all due arrangements for boilers to supply steam for the purposes for which steam is required throughout the new buildings."

Censorship of Telegrams in Germany.-In future no censorship of telegrams will be exercised in Germany except in times of public danger.

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.-On Thursday, May 7th, the following papers will be read:-1. “On some Effects of Alternating Current Flow in Conductors having Capacity and Self-Induction," by Dr. J. A. Fleming, Member; 2. "Some Points connected with Mains for Electric Lighting," by W. H. Preece, F.R.S., Past President. Central Institution Lectures-Summer Term.Monday and Wednesday, at 3 p.m., commencing Monday, May 11th. The subjects of Prof. Ayrton's course of lectures at the Central Institution of the City and Guilds of London Institute, and which may be attended by special students. are given below:-The elementary portions of the Theory and Practice of the Electric Distribution of Light and Power with Alternating Currents, Self and Mutual Induction, Phase Difference between Currents and Pressures, Transformers, Construction and Use, Mode of Testing, Safety Devices, High Pressure Mains, Telegraphy and Telephony.

The Inventors' Institute-Cui Bono?-We recently noticed the following in the Standard :-" The Inventors' Institute held their evening meeting in the Grand Salon of the Medical Battery Company, in Oxford Street. An explanatory lecture was given by Mr. C. B. Harness, the founder of the Electropathic and Zander Institute. The chairman stated that during the 30 years during which the Inventors' Institute had been in existence the inventions for the application of electricity to medical purposes had never been brought under discussion at any of its meetings. The request for a party of members to be allowed to see both the electrical and mechanical appliances in operation had been met by the liberal offer of the edifice itself as the place of meeting. Some three hundred guests assembled. A general conversazione followed the lecture." It is not necessary to congratulate the President of the British Association of Medical Electricians upon this new conquest, but we cannot let the matter pass without remarking that this episode will doubtless add fresh lustre to the name of the Inventors' Institute. To completely reach the highest niche in the temple of fame, it only remains to place its stamp of authority upon a well-known electro-deposition process.

Electrical Papers and the Civil Engineers.—In our issue of April 17th, we dwelt at considerable length upon the most essential points of Mr. Crompton's excellent paper, entitled "The Cost of the Generation and Distribution of Electrical Energy." We then expressed the hope that the subsequent discussions at the Institution of Civil Engineers would bring forth valuable data relating to the cost of electrical energy. Unfortunately, however, this discussion assumed a more or less undignified character; undignified in the sense that it took place in the presence of a generally grave assemblage of civil engineers. Electrical engineers at once took up the crusade of alternating versus continuous current distribution; civil and mechanical engineers ventilated their fads relating to engine and boiler construction, and even hydraulic transmission of energy. Three long evenings were thus occupied by speakers, who, with scarcely an exception, misunderstood the drift and object of Mr. Crompton's paper. There was much talk about the efficiencies of transformers, the efficiencies of engines and of dynamos, but no one followed the footsteps of Mr. Crompton, or accepted his challenge to provide detailed working expenses of any central electric lighting station. With one or two exceptions, the recent discussion resolved itself into a chaos of individual opinions and self assertions, without any of the backing which sound, practical figures alone could have justified. If the advocates of the alternating transformer systems have no better arguments than those brought forward at the Civil Engineers, then they had better wait until they are in a position to prove in terms of pounds, shillings, and pence the cost of producing and distributing electrical energy with high tension alternators. We hope, at an early date, to return to this subject, not with a view of commenting upon the empty twaddle to which we listened, but on the promise of some exceedingly interesting data from central stations which bears directly upon the text of Mr. Crompton's contribution.

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New York Overhead Wires.-We learn from American contemporaries that Major Grant has again taken the field against overhead wires, and the chopping of poles proceeds apace.

Paris Lighting.-The Paris Municipality on Wednesday renewed for 10 years the contracts for the electric lighting of the Boulevards.

City and South London Railway.-The Lambeth police magistrate ordered the directors to put back the Kennington Park Road Station to a level with the adjoining houses. The Queen's Bench, however, allowed an appeal, but granted permission to the County Council to carry the case further.

Fatal Fall from a Telegraph Pole.-At Ashton-underLyne, last Friday morning, a fatal accident occurred to a man named Thomas King, who resided at Guide Bridge. The deceased, who was employed by the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Company, was engaged along with another man named James Kirk in putting new insulators on a telegraph pole near to the Oldham Road Station.

Influenza Among Telephone Operators.-At the end of last week an epidemic of influenza suddenly attacked the operators in the Manchester switch-room of the National Telephone Company, Limited, and, consequently, the service is unsettled. Everything that is possible is being done to meet the serious difficulty by drawing operators from other centres, but, as the service must be temporarily interfered with, the company ask subscribers to exercise forbearance.

Fire at Fowler, Lancaster and Company's Show Room. A fire occurred at Messrs. Fowler, Lancaster and Co.'s show room and central office in Birmingham on Wednesday, occasioned by a curtain being blown near to the fireplace, and ignited by sparks or by a cinder falling upon it. The show room was completely gutted, and damage done to the amount of several hundred pounds, part only of which is covered by insurance. The fire will not occasion any interference with their business or the execution of orders.

Electric Call Systems.-There is evidently going to be a struggle between the two companies which have recently obtained licenses from the Postmaster-General for the establishment of the electric call system, &c. The District Messenger Service and News Company, Limited, states that it is the only company in Europe having the system in operation, whilst the Boy Messengers, Limited, claims to be the original company established in 1887. No doubt a little healthy competition will be of advantage to the public, but the former company has got a good lead.

Long-Distance Telephony.-Since commenting upon Mr. Hastie's action with regard to the National Telephone Company's London system, we note the following in the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch of the 28th :-"We announce to-day that the National Telephone Company has resolved to construct a telephone line between Scotland and England. The two countries are indebted to this telephone company for a large share of the blessings it has, and had it not been for the crass stupidity of Post Office officialism, these benefits would have been far greater. There is, however, something very far wrong when our Post Office is concerning itself with such idle schemes as telephone lines between London and Marseilles, and London and Bordeaux, while all the time scarcely two important towns of Great Britain and Ireland are in telephonic communication with each other."

The Monarch Magnetic Ore Separator.-Those who were present last week at the demonstration given of the capabilities of the "Monarch" magnetic ore separator, were fully impressed with the efficiency of the machine, which has done excellent practical work in the United States. Some of the gentlemen representing technical journals appeared, however, to be grossly ignorant of technical matters, one individual actually asking what "current was. The result of this is that out of four notices which were published, two of them are proposed to be amplified this week-of course, from the descriptions printed by the other two journals. All things considered, the Press view was not well arranged; but this should not prevent those journals, which profess to be of a technical character, from giving lucid descriptions.

[MAY 1, 1891.

Electrostatic Inductive Capacity.-With reference to our correspondent's (Mfd.) letter on this subject in our present issue, we would remark that we have, from other sources, had doubts expressed as to the correctness of the assumption that the capacity of a looped aerial wire is one-half that of a single wire when earth is used as a return. The matter certainly requires looking into, and we would invite corre spondence on the subject. "Mfd." does not state how he arrives at the result that the "calculated capacity of two well-insulated 4 mm. wires, suspended at a uniform distance of 14 inches apart, is about 009 mfd. per mile;" but we imagine he must be taking the case of two wires suspended in space, i.e., with no earth in proximity, an incorrect assumption, we believe, to work on in considering the subject theoretically. The inductive capacity of two covered wires, slung side by side in space, would not, we think, be the same as that of the two wires similarly immersed in water.

Accidents caused by Electric Lighting at Paris.In consequence of the extension of the nets for the distribution of electricity in Paris, there have been produced nume rous accidents, more or less serious. Two of these accidents have in particular stirred up public opinion-the fire at the Café de la Paix and the explosion of the Rue Royale, at the La rue Restaurant. In consequence of this explosion, a deliberation of the Municipal Council of Paris, under date March 13th, 1891, instructed the administration to draw up a list of the accidents with an indication of the probable causes, and a technical commission will be very shortly nominated to study these accidents, and to decide on the measures to be take for their prevention. The accidents mentioned since September, 1889, are 18 in number. Though the most of them are unimportant it is plain that measures should be taken to diminish their frequency and remove the bad impression occasioned. We shall keep our readers informed of the deliberations and of the decision of the commission.

NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED.

London Electrical Tramways Company, Limited.Capital £150,000 in £1 shares. Objects: To acquire the tramway system, equipment and undertaking of the North London Tramways Company, as a going concern, together with certain extensions and reparations; to construct, pur chase, lease, lay down or otherwise acquire any tramway in the United Kingdom; to equip, reinstate, maintain and work by horse, steam, electricity or any other power, the tramways belonging to or leased by the company; to purchase, take on lease or otherwise acquire, build, construct, repair or improve any lands, houses, stables, engine houses buildings, steam, locomotive or other engines, cables, wires, lines, electrical generators and accumulators and other elec trical apparatus; and to carry on the business of manufac turers of and dealers in tramway carriages, trucks, locomotive, electrical and other engines, electrical apparatus and plant, and other effects used in connection with tramways. Signatories (with 1 share each): C. J. Westwood, 3, Adelaide Place, E.C.; F. C. Winby, 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, E.C.; C. Docrora, 3, Adelaide Place, E.C.; B. Sanders, Chigwell, Essex; E. J. Relf, 12, Humber Terrace, Westcombe Park, S.E.; R. Knights, Wanstead; A. W. Hurrell, 165, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. The number of directors is not to be less than 3 nor more than 7, the first to be determined by the subscribers. Qualification £100. Remuneration to be determined at the general meeting. Registered on the 22nd ult. by Hurrell and Mayo, solicitors to the company, 165, Queen Victoria Street, EC. Office, 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, E.C.

British Electrolytic Syndicate, Limited.-Capit £100,000, in £1 shares. Objects: To adopt an agreement expressed to be made between F. Bennett of the one part and the company of the other part, to carry on the business of miners, metallurgists, smelters, engineers, merchants bankers, brokers, shippers, owners, managers, or overseers of railways, tramways, &c.; to carry on the business of electric light company in all its branches, of electricians electrical contractors, electrical and mechanical engineers, manufacturers of and dealers in all apparatus required fr

the generation, distribution, supply, accumulation, and employment of electricity; and to construct, lay down, fix, and carry on all necessary cables, wires, lines, accumulators, lamps, and works. Šignatories (with 1 share each): F. Stafford, 2, Garden Court, Temple; T. Lewis, Bangor; W. J. Tippetts, 11, Maiden Lane, Queen Street, E.C.; A. Maclaren, Coatham, Redcar; H. T. Middleton, 8, Princes Street, S.W.; A. C. Hutchins, Drayton Lodge, Ealing; A. J. Jordan, Keymer. The number of directors is not to be less than three nor more than seven, the first to be determined by the subscribers. Qualification, £100. Remuneration, £1,000 and a percentage of the profits divided between them. Registered on the 22nd ult. by the Metropolitan and Provincial Syndicate, Limited, Lonsdale Chambers, 27, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.

Corifact Syndicate, Limited.-Capital £15,000, in £1 shares. Objects: To adopt an agreement, a draft of which has already been prepared and made between W. A. Burrows and J. W. Savage of the one part, and the "Corifact Syndicate, Limited," of the other part, to carry on the manufacture and sale of artificial leather and leather board, electrical apparatus, the covering and insulation of electrical conducting wires and cables, of insulated and other wires for telegraphic, telephonic, and other purposes; and to carry on the business of electricians, engineers, merchants, bankers, shippers, agents, traders, manufacturers, and contractors. Signatories (with 1 share each), L. A. Atherley-Jones, M.P., 4, Paper Buildings, Temple; E. W. Richardson, 50, Finsbury Circus, E.C.; P. Cave, Rushden, Northampton; E. A. Tate, 102, Corbyn Street, Hornsey Rise, N.; R. Stray, 22, Horsford Road, Brixton, S.W.; E. Alabaster, Leadenhall Buildings, E.C.; C. J. Tritton, 87, Florence Road, Finsbury Park. The number of directors is not to be less than three, nor more than seven, the first being the first three subscribers. Qualification, 100 shares. Remuneration to be determined at the general meeting. Registered on the 23rd ult. by J. S. Blanckensee, 35, King Street, Cheapside.

Cuttriss, Wallis and Company, Limited. Capital £10,000 in £5 shares. Objects: To convert the partnership firm of Cuttriss & Co., of the Elmwood Electrical Works, Camp Road, Leeds, and the business of E. C. Wallis, of 1, Bond Place, Leeds, into a joint stock company; to adopt the agreement mentioned in clause 2 of the articles; to manufacture, buy, sell, hire, let and deal in dynamos, lamps, wire cables, insulating materials, accumulators, telephones, and other apparatus used in connection with the generation, distribution, supply, accumulation and employment of electricity; and generally to carry on the business of electricians and mechanical engineers. Signatories (with one share each) T. Cuttriss, 83, New Briggate, Leeds; S. W. Cuttriss, Camp Road, Leeds; E. C. Wallis, 1, Bond Place, Leeds; W. Greenhalgh, 40, Kirkland Road, Hunslet; A. A. Parsons, 5, New Station Street, Leeds; J. C. Birch, 2, Brunswick Place, Leeds; A. Towler, 31, Bismarck Street, Beeston Hill. The number of directors is not to be less than three nor more than five, the first being T. Cuttriss, S. W. Cuttriss and E. C. Wallis, all of Leeds, electricians, and J. W. Bannister, of Leeds, dyer. Qualification, £150. Remuneration, £50 per annum, divided between them. Registered on the 22nd inst. by Vincent and Vincent, 20, Budge Row, E.C.

:

Electrical Advertising Syndicate, Limited.-Capital £10,000 in £10 shares. Objects: To acquire all or any patents, or such parts thereof as may be agreed upon, for Upward's method and apparatus for the application of electrical energy to the purposes of advertisements; and to work, develop, exercise and promote the uses of any invention acquired by the company. Signatories (with one share each): J. Hewitt, The Oaks, Dalston, Cumberland; A. J. Semon, 30, Tyers Terrace, Vauxhall, S.W.; J. A. Spailing, 35, Ladbroke Road, Notting Hill; W. J. Newbert, 43, Portman Place, Globe Road, E.; C. Cole, 9, Rosendale Terrace, Leytonstone; A. Copping, 11, Queen Victoria Street, E.C.; G. F. Tucker, 9, Gateley Road, Stockwell, S.W. The number of directors is not to be less than three, including managing director, the first to be appointed by the subscribers. Qualification, 10 shares. Remuneration, £50 per annum. Mr. A. R. Upward is managing director for three years. Registered on the 29th ult. by F. Bradley, 75, Mark Lane, E.C.

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OFFICIAL RETURNS OF ELECTRICAL

COMPANIES.

The Cambridge University and Town Electric Lighting Company, Limited.-The first annual return of this company, made up to the 28th June, 1890, was filed on the 8th inst. The nominal capital is £50,000 in £10 shares. Seven shares have been taken up, but upon these no call has been made. Office, St. Mary's Street, Cambridge.

The Chagford and Devon Electric Light Company, Limited.—The statutory return of this company, made up to the 1st inst., was filed on the 7th inst. The nominal capital is £2,000 in £1 shares. 449 shares have been taken up, upon 49 of which the full amount has been called, and upon the remainder £1 per share has been considered as paid. The calls paid amount to £49. Office, The Woollen Factory, Chagford, Devonshire.

The Brighton and Hove Electric Light Company, Limited. The annual return of this company, made up to the 7th inst., was filed on the same day. The nominal capital is £100,000 in £5 shares. 3,000 share have been taken up, upon 1,400 of which the full amount has been called, and upon the remainder £1 5s. per share has been called. The calls paid amount to £9,000, and the amount considered as paid on 1,600 shares is £6,000. Offices and works, Gloster Road, Brighton.

Midland Electric Light and Power Company, Limited. The annual return of this company, made up to the 8th ult., was filed on the 17th ult. The nominal capital is £50,000 in £10 shares. 3,139 shares have been taken up, upon 7 of which the full amount has been called, and upon the remainder the full amount has been considered as paid. The calls paid amount to £70. Office, 33, Waterloo Street, Birmingham.

Electrical Standardising, Testing and Training Institution, Limited. The statutory return of this company, made up to the 7th February, 1890, was filed on the 17th ult. The nominal capital is £10,000 divided into 1,900 ordinary and 100 founders' shares of £5 each. Seven shares have been taken up, but upon these no call has been made. No office has been registered.

Electrical Works Construction and Maintenance Company, Limited.-The annual return of this company, made up to the 13th January, 1891, was filed on the 17th ult. The nominal capital is £2,000 in £1 shares. Seven shares have been taken up, but upon these no call has been made. Office, 15, St. Helen's Place, E.C.

River Plate Electricity Company, Limited.-The annual return of this company, made up to the 31st October, 1890, was filed on the 15th ult. The nominal capital is £500,000, divided into 49,900 ordinary shares of £10 each, and 1,000 founders' shares of £1 each. 13,557 ordinary and 892 founders' shares have been taken up, and upon 11,157 ordinary and 892 founders' shares the full amount has been called, while 2,400 ordinary shares are considered as paid. The calls paid amount to £108,850, considered as paid to £24,000, and unpaid to £2,720. Office, 78, Coleman Street, London, E.C.

Miners' Lamp Electric Lighting Conpany, Limited.— The statutory return of this company, made up to the 25th May, 1889, was filed on the 16th ult. The nominal capital is £3,000 in £5 shares. 255 shares have been taken up, upon 85 of which the full amount has been called, and upon the remainder the full amount has been considered as paid. The calls paid amount to £420, considered as paid to £850, and unpaid to £5.

to

The first annual return of this made up company, the 26th September, 1890, was filed on the 16th ult. No change has been made. Office, 118, Albion Street, Leeds.

Birmingham Electric Supply Company, Limited.— The registered office of this company is now situate at 14, Dale End, Birmingham.

International Electric Syndicate, Limited.-The registered office of this company is situate at 5, Guardian Buildings, Manchester.

Electric Wiring and Fittings Company, Limited.— The statutory return of this company, made up to the 24th January, 1890, was filed on the 9th ult. The nominal capital is £5,000 in £1 shares. 2,882 shares have been taken up,

566

upon 1,382 of which 5s. per share has been called, and upon the remainder the full amount has been considered as paid. The calls paid amount to £343 15s., considered as paid to £1,500, and unpaid to £1 15s. Office, 42, Duke Street, St. James's, London, S.W.

CITY NOTES.

Metropolitan Electric Supply Company.

In

SIR JOHN PENDER presided at the fourth ordinary meeting of this company, held at Winchester House on Wednesday. Taking the report published in our last issue as read, he said it was desirable that shareholders should clearly understand the position of the company, and how the finances had been dealt with during the last fifteen months. The form in which the accounts was presented was in accordance with the wishes of the Board of Trade, who, under the provisions of the Electric Lighting Act, had power to prescribe the manner in which accounts of companies should be kept. They were, however, informed by the board that they would be content with a detailed account dating from the last balance sheet. The accounts spoke for themselves. Shareholders would be able to form a fair idea of the amount of work which had been carried out, as well as the money expended in order to bring the company to its present position. It was satisfactory to find that the revenue made during the later period of working showed a small profit. Revenue was growing, and the future success was assured. With regard to the interim dividend, he was glad to tell the shareholders that the period since showed an actual increase, although it was comparatively bright weather. The small dividend announced proved that the anticipations which the directors held out at previous meetings were in a fair way of being fulfilled. It would be interesting for them to compare the commencement and close of the period of the company's existence. 1889 they had opened the first portion of Sardinia station, and had a few temporary overhead wires to customers. Rathbone Place had been running a short time, the erection of Manchester Square had not even commenced, Whitehall station was then as at present doing good and steady work, and the total number of lamps on the 1st October, 1889, was 6,011, to-day it was 60,000. Customers then numbered 37, they now amounted to 480. As the report also showed, their revenue for 1889 £2,656, in the corresponding period of 1890 £10,726. The plant at Sardinia Street had been duplicated, the new plant at Rathbone Place installed, and a network of underground mains. Applications for the light were steadily growing, and he fully believed that at the next meeting they would be able to report that the lamp connections numbered 100,000 lights, if not considerably more. They must understand that the whole of this increase would be amply dealt with by the present machinery, and therefore if they could show a profit on 50,000 lights, they ought to be able to show a much larger profit when supplying 100,000 lights. They would see from a diagram on the wall that very much remained to be done before they had completely lighted their district. He would like to make a few remarks as to the choice they had made in their system. It was mainly the alternating current transformer system, which they worked at the extremely moderate pressure of 1,000 volts. They adopted it under the very best scientific advice, and they were perfectly satisfied with the results of the choice. It enabled them to cover the area of supply at less cost than any other system, and they would remember that he told them at the first meeting that they had not put all their eggs into one basket. They had different installations, and those installations would work alone or together, and that had been proved to be the fact. The system had turned out in America to be a most profitable one, and he thought they were going to prove it most profitable in England. The advocates of other systems had been lately doing their best to disparage the merits of the alternating current, and endeavoured to make a strong point out of the loss of energy which, to a certain extent, undoubtedly occurred in connection with the transforming apparatus, but he would remind them that that loss was insignificant when compared to the heavy initial outlay which the use of the continuous current necessitates. He would, moreover, point out that any loss would be reduced to a minimum so soon as the increasing density of the lighting warrants the establishment of transformer substations. This question of transformer sub-stations, or, as the Americans say, of banking transformers, had for a long while been receiving their careful attention, and they all along had in view their ultimate adoption as soon as the business was sufficiently developed to ensure their being worked economically. Another great advantage of the system over all others adopted in London was that each of the alternate current stations can assist, or be assisted, by any otherindeed, it is the usual practice at present to shut down one of the stations entirely during the hours when the load is lightest; and during the summer it was quite possible that one station would be adequate to deal with the requirements of the whole of the areas during the hours of minimum demand, thus gaining considerable economy in working. In speaking to them of systems of supply, they would probably have in their minds that adopted by another great London supply company. They must all admire the indomitable pluck with which the difficulties, inseparable from the achievement of such a scheme, had been faced; they must all admit the genius of the engineer who was responsible for such a gigantic design, and most heartily did he wish him success, and they must acknowledge the accustomed skill displayed by his friend, the chairman of that company, in his recent review of their position and prospects. They sincerely trusted that not only for their own sake, but for the sake of the cause of electric lighting generally, their success was now assured, and they were glad to think

[MAY 1, 1891.

that they were able to be of some assistance to them in their hour of need. But as the chairman could not avoid attempting to make a point at their expense in dealing with the anticipated immunity from vibration difficulties, so he ventured to repeat the friendly warning which he had often uttered before-namely, that it is dangerous t put all their eggs in one basket. One of the principal arguments brought by the London Corporation in establishing one large centra station outside London, was based on the fact that the Gas Light and Coke Company had done the same at Becton, and, what the Gas Company did after 50 years and more working on a more modest scale, their friends had done after three or four years of pure pioneering work. Of the two examples, the Metropolitan preferred to follow that of the former, and to walk before fo ran. When their figures can show something like the retur of the Gas Light and Coke Company, with its 200,000 cus tomers and its million tons of coal, which was yearly required to meet the demands upon them, then would be the time to consider whether economy and efficiency would best be served by the erection of a great outlying generating station, or whether their present policy of smalle plants which could render one another mutual assistance, thus reducing the risk of failure of supply to a minimum, would even thes be the soundest one. With regard to vibration, to which Mr. Fortes had referred, it was, of course, inevitable that the erection of large machinery works in the midst of a great town should give rise to complaints. They had, of course, had to deal with grievances respecting ancient lights, alleged noise, and what not, about which he would say more but for the fact that they had at present two cases sub judice. He might say, however, that every precaution had bem taken to prevent the possibility of any noise or vibration occurring and as a practical proof that such precautions could be taken with success, he would inform them that they were now sitting within a very few yards of a powerful plant which was working at that moment, and which supplied the electricity and other requirement for the whole building. There was one other point in Mr Forbes's remarks to which he would allude. In answer to s question respecting the amount receivable per lamp per annam he had replied that £1 per light was not enough, and that his corporation would now refuse to take a contrad at such a rate." If this applied to their customers as a whole, b must congratulate the London Corporation on their experien which was quite at variance with that of themselves, or, he might safely add, of any other London supply company. There were, he admitted, classes of customers with whom a contract on such terus would be out of the question, whose consumption would need a far larger contract price than 20s. But against these classes had to be set the private customers, whose demands on their supply were com paratively small, and from whom it would be impossible, and indeed, unfair, to obtain so high a price per light. He was speaking now of experience gained by the supply of current by meter, by which means the larger proportion of their customers were now charged The average revenue obtained for each 8 C.P. lamp connection per annum was about 12s., and he believed that even this figure was a better t than was obtainable by companies whose area of supply was of a more purely residential character than their own. They must ne think that they were losers by this experience. The less each lamp was used the greater the number of lamp connections the pla could safely deal with. They were, therefore, able to suppy a far larger number of lights than he had originally believed th plant capable of meeting, and hence their operations we considerably widened, and they would gain by number wist they had lost by rate. With regard to their system of under ground mains, the length of conduits at present laid amounted to 41 miles. The whole of this work had been executed under the me diate supervision of their own staff, and by their own workmen-s more efficient and economical plan than that of employing a oe tractor. Into these conduits they had drawn 90 miles of mains, and it was a matter of deep satisfaction for him to inform them that one single fault or leakage had yet occurred in any one of the 1 circuits. Anyone who realised what this meant, would readily r as to the excellence of the cable employed, and to the skill and cut with which their staff had manipulated it. It also tended t strengthen their conviction that the system adopted for that mains was the proper one. They had always made it a practice t give a constant supply, night and day, and although, at any rate st first, and during the small hours of the night, the demand had scarody justified them in doing this from an economical point of view, thy had, nevertheless, always believed it to be their first duty to honour ably carry out the responsibilities which had been imposed up them by their Parliamentary obligations, and to prove to their ca tomers that electric lighting was, no less than gas, reliable whenever wanted. With regard to their Paddington concession, granted August, they were already making great progress in this district wi their mains, and were already supplying upwards of 2,000 Ligtas from their Manchester Square station. Indeed, had it L4 been for the exceptionally severe winter, which stopped t works for at least two months, their progress would ha been still more marked. The large demand for light in th important parish rendered it necessary for them to proceed once with the erection of a station on the wharfside premises whe they had acquired, and as the bulk of the machinery was alreary completed, and the building works to be commenced in a few day time, they had every reason to believe that the station would be or pleted in time for next winter's lighting. As far as they atk & present estimate, the erection of this station, with the supply ca and the completion of the present system in their other districts, wi as nearly as possible, absorb their present issue of capital. would therefore soon issue notices for the payment of the fins = of £1 per share, and he thought they would be meeting the of the shareholders in this respect, as there would then be no for liability on the shares, which would, therefore, improve their alte

MAY 1, 1891.]

favourable position on the market, and would tend to add to their attractiveness as a sound investment.

The motion, which was seconded by Sir GEORGE ELLIOT, M.P., was carried unanimously.

The retiring directors and the auditors were then re-elected, and the usual vote of thanks to chairman and directors concluded the meeting.

The Kensington and Knightsbridge Electric Lighting Company, Limited.

THE report of the directors, to be presented at the fourth ordinary general meeting, to be held at No. 1, Great George Street, Westminster, on Monday, the 4th day of May, 1891, at 5 p.m., reads as follows:

The directors beg to submit to the shareholders a statement of the accounts of the company, together with a report of the position of the undertaking at the end of the year 1890.

The whole of the compulsory area has had its streets, with the exception of about three-quarters of a mile, supplied with mains, and in 24 miles of streets, external to this area, mains have also been provided, making the total length of streets down which mains have been placed, 10 miles, about four miles of which have been executed in the year 1890. It is computed that there are about 1,300 houses fronting on these mains, and on the 31st December last only 291 were taking current. During the year the number of houses and shops connected with the system has increased from 147 on 31st December, 1889, to 291 on 31st December, 1890; while the number of lamps calculated on the usual basis of 8 candle-power has increased from 11,794 to 25,535.

The battery station in Queen's Terrace Mews, which was in the course of construction at the time of the last report, has now been completed and at work for some months with most satisfactory results. The plant at both Kensington Court and Chapel Place stations has been increased, not only to meet the extra lighting obtained during the year, but also to provide power for a large increase of demand. It may be found, however, that the demand will increase with sufficient rapidity to necessitate the execution during the current year of larger extensions than the company's present funds would enable them to provide. To guard against such a contingency the directors think it would be well that they should be in a position to issue some further preference shares, those of the first issue having been already taken up, with the exception of about £2,000. They will therefore submit to the shareholders the requisite resolution for creating further preference shares, the date and conditions of their issue being left to be determined by the directors when the money is wanted.

The dividend on the 6 per cent. preference shares was duly paid to the 30th June, 1890, and out of the balance standing to the credit of the nett revenue account on the 31st December, 1890-£1,804 2s. 2d. -the sum of £922 18s. 3d. has been appropriated for the payment of the preference dividend to that date, leaving £881 3s. 11d. available for the next account.

Sir Charles Grant retired from the directorship during the year, and Mr. George H. Hopkinson was appointed by the directors to fill the vacancy.

In accordance with the articles of association, Mr. Granville R. Ryder and Mr. R. W. Wallace retire from the directorship, and being eligible offer themselves for re-election.

The auditors, Messrs. Lovelock H. W. Whiffen and Dickinson, offer themselves for re-election.

567

CR.

BALANCE SHEET, 31st December, 1890.

By Balance from last account invested in consols Amount brought from revenue account

£

s. d. 549 3 10 1,823 12 8 £2,372 16 6

= £38,400

1,750

36,650 0 0

14,991 10 4 1,398 14 1 1,804 2 2

We have examined the above accounts and certify that they are correct, and agree with the books, and that in our opinion the balancesheet is properly drawn up and exhibits a true and correct statement of the company's affairs.

LOVELOCK H. W. Whiffen & DICKINSON,
Chartered Accountants, Auditors.

Indo-European Telegraph Company, Limited.

THE twenty-fourth ordinary general meeting of this company was held on Tuesday last at Winchester House to consider the directors' report and accounts for the year ended 31st December, 1890, as also a resolution making the managing director a member of the board. The reading of the notice convening the meeting and the taking the report and accounts as read being gone through,

The Chairman (Mr. J. HERBERT TRITTON) said: They would observe from the report that the receipts of the company showed an augmentation of £5,518 over those of 1889, being £113,807, while the gross expenses were £57,901, a decrease of £1,338 from those of the previous year. There was an increase of £2,000 in the maintenance expenses, owing to the depreciation in value of the rouble-the basis upon which the company's payments were made-and a loss of £420