Perhaps a Loss to Niagara

It is possible that the fire in Nikola Tesla's workshop may be considered as a loss to Niagara. Tesla is said to have been on the eve of some wonderful discovery in electrical science, the findings in which are always revelations of double interest to this city, as it has such an electrical future before it as to lend all other places. The New York Sun pays Tesla this great compliment: "The destruction of Nikola Tesla's workshop, with its wonderful contents, is something more than a private calamity. It is a misfortune to the whole world. It is not in any degree an exaggeration to say that the men living at this time who are more important to the human race than this young gentleman, can be counted on the fingers of one hand; perhaps on the thumb of one hand."

The field in which Tesla expected to work wonders was that of incandescent lighting. Electricians say that about 96 per cent. of the energy used to produce incandescent lights now goes to waste, and Tesla has said that he hopes to save at least one-third of this loss.