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serves only a small district, and in this way the size of
distributing mains may be kept down ; the supply from
batteries has these enormous advantages ; that in the event
of a total breakdown at the generating station supply can
still be maintained for some hours ; that it is not necessary
to keep the machinery at the generating station in motion
throughout the whole 24 hours, and that the batteries
provide a supply for the long hours when very little is
required; the system has the advantages of continuous
currents, viz., applicability to the supply of motive power,
and other uses besides light and heat, and greater ease
of measurement. The regulation, with small areas supplied
from each sub-station, should be very good, and there is no
doubt that a battery current is less destructive to lamps
than one supplied from dynamos, whether alternating or
continuous.
"On the other hand the cost of the batteries is very great, and
also that of the skilled attention they require, while their
efficiency at maximum out-put is probably rather low; the
automatic switches are a weak point, and any failure in
their action would probably ruin the batteries at that
station; the insulation of large batteries cannot be maintained
at all high, and the numerous joints, in the presence
of acid fumes, are a source of weakness.
"This system, in which the supply is entirely from accumulators,
if it can be successfully worked in practice, possesses
very great advantages. Unfortunately it cannot be forgotten
that identically the same system was tried a few years ago
at Colchester, and ended in disastrous failure."
The principal objections which have been urged against the London
Company's scheme specially are as follows:—
(a) That having only one generating station an accident might
stop the whole supply.
That an accident, such as the bursting of one of the large steam pipes,,
might have this effect is certain, for even if it did not kill or
injure those in charge of the machines, it would fill the whole
building with steam, which would greatly impede, if it did not
entirely prevent, the necessary work of the station from being for