[Newspaper]
Publication: The Indianapolis Journal
Indianapolis, IN, United States
p. 2, col. 5
ELECTRICITY AT THE FAIR.
Mr. Barrett Talks of Glass Tubes, New
Devices and Street-Car Motors.
The directors of the Pendleton glass tube-works held a meeting last night at the Bates House, at which Hon. John Barrett, chief of the bureau of electricity of the world’s fair, was present. Mr. Barrett had spent the day at Pendleton, inspecting the glass tubing made by this company. He was much pleased with the tubing, he said, and agreed to recommend its use to the directors of the world’s fair. In conversation after the meeting with a Journal reporter Mr. Barrett said:
"We have been in need of something for use as a conduit for wires. I think these glass tubes will answer splendidly every demand. We have been using iron piping, paper piping and other appliances in Chicago, but nothing has given satisfaction. It has come to a point." continued Mr. Barrett, "where some of the buildings in Chicago have as many telephones as a small town, and taken together with the electric-light wires, it becomes very essential to protect the wires from possible contact where harm might result. The glass tubes are just what is wanted, and I shall reccomend their general use."
"What of electricity at the world's fair?"
"We will have a building 700x340 feet in dimensions. and with a gallery, will have available 240,000 square feet of space. But applications have been made to us for 350,000 feet of space, so you can see what parring down we will have to do. The exhibit will include everything known to the history and science of electricity, not only in this country, but in Europe. The great majority of contrivances exhibited will relate to the subjects of light, power and welding."
"What will be the chief novelty in your department?" was asked.
"It is something that will please the ladies. We will have a cottage equipped with electric appliances for every one of the domestic needs. It will be lighted with electricity, the heat for cooking will be electrical, and there will be unlimited power for running fans, working the washing-machine the ironing machine, the pumps, the churn, the scrub-brush, or any other needed purpose. Even the iron for curling bangs in the lady’s toilet will be heated with the subtle current. In fact nothing that can be thought of will be omitted in this cottage."
"What is the next electrical wonder?"
"I think the next great feat in electricity will be an electrical street car, gathering the propelling power through electrical induction from the earth, without use of wires in any way. There is a model already made of such a vehicle, and there are several electrical inventors working to perfect a motor of this kind. One is a young man in Wisconsin, in whom I think there is true genius. 1 believe the idea has been shown to be feasible."
"Will Indiana compare with other States in the exhibit?"
"Indiana will show in in first-class style. The Fort Wayne electrical plant will make a large exhibit, and also the Jenney, of this city. Mr. Jenney stands high in the electrical world."
Mr. Barrett inquired for Judge Martindale, for whom be professed much admiration. He said be had made an effort to find him during the day, but he had been unable to do so.
