His Wireless Light a Fact Says Tesla

Cheap to Produce, He Explains, and Lamps Will Last Forever.

Nikola Tesla, who has been at work on a "wireless electric light" for twenty years, announced yesterday that he has practically brought it to a state of perfection. He says a plant for its production is now nearing completion at his laboratory on Long Island.

"It would be possible by my wireless transmitter of great power," said Mr. Tesla, "to light the entire United States. The current would pass into the air and, spreading in all directions, produce the effect of a strong aurora borealis. It would be a soft light, but sufficient to distinguish objects. Some day soon my idea will be carried out. I would like nothing better than to undertake to illuminate first the harbor of New York for a distance of, say, 100 miles around.

Lamps Last Forever.

"My present plan is to distribute this light from a central station, which is the most economical and also the best method of obtaining light of highest quality. My lamps will last forever, there being nothing in them to burn out. They are simply tubes of bulbs of glass hermetically sealed and containing nothing but rarefied gas.

"One advantage is the economy of production, which is greater than in any other light so far obtained. Still another is the wonderful quality of the light, which resembles sunlight so closely that it cannot be distinguished from it. It is very soothing to the eye, being diffused. A great saving will be effected by wireless distribution. I am intending chiefly to supply isolated dwellings which cannot be conveniently reached by wires or lighted in any of the ways heretofore used.

"In this system of distribution there is absolutely no difference where the dwelling is located. The force of the current is the same. The house might be 12,000 miles from the plant or 12 feet, it would be the same. The plant consists of only a little transformer which could easily be carried in the pocket, and will be sufficient to light the whole house. The current may be conveyed to the individual lamps either by wires, or all wires might be dispensed with and the lights rendered portable."

The scientist then explained that the current thus created was a "vibrating" one and was convertible for other purposes.

Other Uses of the System.

"Among other things," said he, "the same current can be used to carry the human voice or the telegraphic code. One plant will do all this without interference of one action with the other. This is done by the use of an invention which I have called the 'Art of Individualization.' This is a method and an apparatus for making signals or messages non-interfering and non-interferable, and it is based on the use of a number of vibrations in combination."

When asked how soon he expects to demonstrate his discovery in a completed form the inventor gave hint of another invention already completed.

"It will not take long to complete my plant," said he, "but I am now compelled to concentrate all my efforts on the introduction of my new steam and gas turbine, which my friends consider the most valuable result that I have accomplished. It has to do entirely with the great question of waste, and I believe, will be a tremendous money saver. Just as soon as I get it started on its way I shall devote all of my time to the wireless."