THE SWITCH
Editor's Note: This explanation by Kristen H. ('17) is relevant to New York influences in scientific progress, and provides history of Thomas Edison's discoveries.
The United States is a powerful and influential country, shown throughout history at times like its involvement in World War II and when it started taking over many territories, on its road to becoming a world power. New York, what some say to be the city with the brightest lights and the most opportunities in the United States, has taken on some of that power and influence. New York is constantly looked to for changes in fashion, music, art, and more. New York is perceived as a place that thrives on innovation, always leading others in a new direction. Recently, the first large-scale wind turbine was installed in Brooklyn, New York to help power a recycling plant. The push to bring the turbine to Brooklyn began in 2008 in hopes for wind power and other renewable sources of energy in the city to be used instead of products that would have to be replenished and could potentially hurt the environment (Schlossberg, 2015). However, is it possible that the motive behind the push for the wind turbine to be introduced to New York is also to scientifically influence other places in the U.S. and around the world? Thomas Outerbridge, general manager of the Sims plant, said, “They say, ‘If you can do it in New York, you can do it anywhere.’ And if you do it in Brooklyn, you can do it anywhere and you can be very cool” (Schlossberg, 2015, p. 6). Mr. Outerbridge’s comments provide support for this other motive. He is saying that if New York is accepting an alternative source of energy, then there’s no reason why other places won’t too. In fact, those places will be seen as cooler because they are falling in line behind the progress New York is making. Mr. Outerbridge raises a very important question. Why is it that New York influences other places, specifically in terms of scientific progress?
One of the first thoughts that comes to mind when you think of New York is that it is the city that generates the brightest lights, so why not talk about Thomas Edison, one of the greatest American inventors that ever lived, to try to answer this question? Edison was born to middle-class parents in Milan, Ohio but started his career in Newark New Jersey. In 1878, Edison began working on a system of electrical illumination and generation, what he hoped would compete with oil based and gas based lighting. He started by devising a small incandescent lamp, a lamp that emitted light as a result of being heated. Edison used a carbon filament in the bulb and it lasted for 13.5 hours. However, Edison still worked to better this design. Later, he discovered that carbonized bamboo filament in the bulb would last 1,200 hours (Josephson, 2014). In 1878, Edison formed the Edison Electrical Light Company in New York City, backed by investors like J.P. Morgan, and installed his new lighting system. On October 21, 1879, Edison devised an electric bulb that would be sold and then proceeded to design a way for electrical power to be generated and distributed “that would turn his light bulb into a commercially efficient and economical business” (Edison, 2001, p. 4). In December of 1880, Edison founded the Edison Illuminating Company; a company that established the first investor-owned electric utility in 1882 on Pearl Street, New York City. On September 4, 1882, Edison switched on the Pearl Street station's electrical power distribution system, which provided 59 people in lower Manhattan with 110 volts of direct current. This switch didn’t only switch on an electrical current, but turned on what would soon to be New York’s burning light; a light people didn’t just see, but could feel. This new invention was the start of something big, something exciting, and it all started in New York (Edison, 2001).
Soon, other inventors and electrical companies became interested in Edison’s system and it lead to the lights that are now up along Broadway, from 14th Street to 34th Street. Soon, Edison’s company name was changed to the New York Edison Company and by 1932, New York Edison's parent company, Consolidated Gas, was the largest company in the world providing electrical service. In 1936, with electric sales far ahead of gas sales, Consolidated Gas changed its name to the Consolidated Edison Company (well known now as Con Ed). As I’m sure you can guess, Thomas Edison’s light bulb and ways of generating electricity without oil spread to other places around the world. For example, the United Kingdom adopted this movement of electrification after Edison formed the Edison Electrical Light Company (Josephson, 2014).
Perhaps the answer to the question generated by Mr. Outerbridge’s comment has everything to do with Thomas Edison. Thomas Edison’s display of genius in New York inspired people; it made people realize that everything hadn’t been discovered yet; that there were better ways of doing things; that the world had more to offer them if they were smart enough to figure it out and were determined enough to achieve their goals. New York is the birthplace of hope; a place where curiosity and wonder are abundant and the knowledge of man can grow. Maybe Mr. Outerbridge knew that if New York were to accept the wind turbine, it would give people in other places that same hope that Thomas Edison gave them when he flipped that switch.
One of the first thoughts that comes to mind when you think of New York is that it is the city that generates the brightest lights, so why not talk about Thomas Edison, one of the greatest American inventors that ever lived, to try to answer this question? Edison was born to middle-class parents in Milan, Ohio but started his career in Newark New Jersey. In 1878, Edison began working on a system of electrical illumination and generation, what he hoped would compete with oil based and gas based lighting. He started by devising a small incandescent lamp, a lamp that emitted light as a result of being heated. Edison used a carbon filament in the bulb and it lasted for 13.5 hours. However, Edison still worked to better this design. Later, he discovered that carbonized bamboo filament in the bulb would last 1,200 hours (Josephson, 2014). In 1878, Edison formed the Edison Electrical Light Company in New York City, backed by investors like J.P. Morgan, and installed his new lighting system. On October 21, 1879, Edison devised an electric bulb that would be sold and then proceeded to design a way for electrical power to be generated and distributed “that would turn his light bulb into a commercially efficient and economical business” (Edison, 2001, p. 4). In December of 1880, Edison founded the Edison Illuminating Company; a company that established the first investor-owned electric utility in 1882 on Pearl Street, New York City. On September 4, 1882, Edison switched on the Pearl Street station's electrical power distribution system, which provided 59 people in lower Manhattan with 110 volts of direct current. This switch didn’t only switch on an electrical current, but turned on what would soon to be New York’s burning light; a light people didn’t just see, but could feel. This new invention was the start of something big, something exciting, and it all started in New York (Edison, 2001).
Soon, other inventors and electrical companies became interested in Edison’s system and it lead to the lights that are now up along Broadway, from 14th Street to 34th Street. Soon, Edison’s company name was changed to the New York Edison Company and by 1932, New York Edison's parent company, Consolidated Gas, was the largest company in the world providing electrical service. In 1936, with electric sales far ahead of gas sales, Consolidated Gas changed its name to the Consolidated Edison Company (well known now as Con Ed). As I’m sure you can guess, Thomas Edison’s light bulb and ways of generating electricity without oil spread to other places around the world. For example, the United Kingdom adopted this movement of electrification after Edison formed the Edison Electrical Light Company (Josephson, 2014).
Perhaps the answer to the question generated by Mr. Outerbridge’s comment has everything to do with Thomas Edison. Thomas Edison’s display of genius in New York inspired people; it made people realize that everything hadn’t been discovered yet; that there were better ways of doing things; that the world had more to offer them if they were smart enough to figure it out and were determined enough to achieve their goals. New York is the birthplace of hope; a place where curiosity and wonder are abundant and the knowledge of man can grow. Maybe Mr. Outerbridge knew that if New York were to accept the wind turbine, it would give people in other places that same hope that Thomas Edison gave them when he flipped that switch.
Edison, C. (2001, September 22). A Brief History of Con Edison: Electricity. Retrieved April 1,2015, from http://www.coned.com/history/electricity.asp.
Josephson, M. (2014, May 1). Thomas Alva Edison. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/179233/Thomas-Alva-Edison.
Schlossberg, T. (2015, January 15). In Brooklyn, Fertile Ground for a Wind Turbine. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/nyregion/brooklyn-waterfront-is-fertile-ground-for-citys-first-large-scale-wind-turbine.html?_r=0.
Josephson, M. (2014, May 1). Thomas Alva Edison. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/179233/Thomas-Alva-Edison.
Schlossberg, T. (2015, January 15). In Brooklyn, Fertile Ground for a Wind Turbine. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/nyregion/brooklyn-waterfront-is-fertile-ground-for-citys-first-large-scale-wind-turbine.html?_r=0.
