Notes

Abstract

ON Monday a preliminary meeting was held in the Mansion House in furtherance of the scheme of the International Electrical Exhibition which it is proposed to hold at the Crysta Palace on a very large scale in the winter months. There were present, among others, Mr. William Spottiswoode, Mr. John Holms, M.P. (one of the Lords of the Treasury), Mr. Mungo M'George (Chairman of the Crystal Palace Company), Capt. Douglas Galton, C.B., Dr. Gladstone, F.R.S., Col. Gouraud, Dr. J. Hopkinson, F.R.S., Mr. C. V. Walker, F.R.S., and many more. Mr. Mungo M'George, in moving the appointment of an influential honorary council to advise with the directors of the Crystal Palace in carrying out the proposed exhibition, said that no effort should be wanting on their part to make the scheme a great scientific and commercial success. The honorary council was formed of those present, and, among others, the Lord Mayor Elect, the President of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Dr. C. W. Siemens, Prof. Adams, Sir H. Cole, Prof. Fleeming Jenkin, Mr. W. Crookes, Sir E. J. Reed, M.P., Sir Edward Watkin, M.P., Sir Herbert Sandford, and many more. Major Flood Page, the manager of the Crystal Palace, read a report, which stated that communications have been opened with the leading exhibitors at the Electrical Exhibition in Paris, and with others who have made the development of electricity their special study; and, although but a very short period has elapsed since the first steps were taken, the responses have been such as to render it certain that an effective and varied display will be made at the Crystal Palace. Most of the best-known systems of electric lighting will be represented—among others, the Siemens, Brush, British Electric, Electric Light and Power Generator Company's systems, the Joel, Pilsen, Edison, Swan, Maxim, Weston, Lontin, Rapieff, and Gerard lights; and various new lamps will be exhibited for the first time in public. The storage of electricity will, it is hoped, be illustrated by Faure's and De Meritens' secondary batteries. Telephones, which are not nearly so much used in England as elsewhere, will be strongly represented; and the various applications of electricity as a motive power will be seen in Trouvé's boats and other interesting exhibits. Many eminent scientific men have expressed great interest in the undertaking, and intend to become exhibitors. Colonel Gouraud promised all the help of his fellow-country, men towards the success of the Exhibition, which, though following that at Paris very sharply, might be more attractive to American exhibitors, for it would be one stage nearer home, and its arrangements would be conducted in a language which the exhibitors could understand. Capt. Galton expressed a hope that military and submarine electricity would be suitably and adequately represented on the occasion. Sir James Anderson also supported the proposal, which was carried unanimously. Major Flood Page then read a résumé of the arrangements for the exhibition, which stated that the principal objects to be admitted were comprised in the following:— Apparatus used for the production and transmission of electricity; magnets, natural and artificial; mariners' compasses; applications of electricity—to telegraphy and the transmission of sounds, to the production of heat, to lighting and the production of light, to the service of lighthouses and signals, to apparatus giving warning, to mines, railways, and navigation, to military art, to fine arts, to galvano-plastic, electro-chemistry, and to chemical arts, to the production and transmission of motive power, to mechanical arts and horology, to medicine and surgery, to astronomy, meteorology, geodesy, to agriculture (in its application to industries), to apparatus for registering, to domestic uses, lightning conductors. Major Page earnestly hoped that Mr. Fawcett would allow the Post Office exhibit at Paris to be shown at the Crystal Palace, and that Mr. Childers, as Secretary of State for War, would give aid to experiments in electricity as applied to military purposes.