The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Turning Night Into Day
Why not use a filament made of some such non-inflammable, non-fusible material in electric light bulbs instead of the carbon filament?
They first tried making this filament of osmium. Osmium has a very high melting point but the osmium filaments were not sufficiently strong. Another metal was tried, tantalum; and finally tungsten. Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals, 3390° C. This is the electric light still in general use.
It is a curious thing that every new lamp took whatever was best from its rivals, the older lamps. Gas and kerosene lamps took over the Argand burner from the oil lamp. The carbon electric lamps took over the idea of incandescent carbon from the gas and kerosene lamps. Then the gas lamp discarded the carbon and used the Welsbach mantle. The electric lamp, too, discarded the carbon filament and the economical lamp with a metal filament appeared.
So one inventor continued the work begun by another and all together worked for a common end.
The whole history of lighting is expressed in the present prices of gas, kerosene, and electricity. The most expensive of all is the old-fashioned gas-burner. The later round burners are a little cheaper. Lighting with a kerosene lamp costs only half as much. But the cheapest of all are the latest types of electric, incandescent gas, and incandescent kerosene lamps.
The struggle between gas and electricity is not decided yet. It is difficult to say which will come off the victor.
Which is better, gas or electricity?
Gas is no more expensive than electricity and it gives a clear white light. It is also easy to light. One doesn't have to climb up to the ceiling on a ladder and light it with a match. There are now gas burners which are lighted by means of electricity. (Even here we can't get along without electricity!) Gas may be used not only for light but for heating and cooking also. Excellent gas ranges are in very common use everywhere, also heating stoves and water heaters.
There are also electric cooking stoves, and electric saucepans, tea-kettles and frying pans.
Electricity is better than gas in many respects. If there happens to be a leak in the gas-pipe the gas leaks out into the room and may poison everyone in it. It may cause a still greater disaster. If much gas leaks out it mixes with the air and forms an explosive mixture. Then if someone happens to strike a match the whole house is blown up.
