nt lighting, the flexibility and safety of the system, the
ease with which other electric devices for heat, power, etc., could be
put indiscriminately on the same circuits with the lamps, in due course
rendered the old attitude of opposition obviously foolish and untenable.
The United States Census Office statistics of 1902 show that the income
from incandescent lighting by central stations had by that time become
over 52 per cent. of the total, while that from arc lighting was less
than 29; and electric-power service due to the ease with which motors
could be introduced on incandescent circuits brought in 15 per
cent. more. Hence twenty years after the first Edison stations were
established the methods they involved could be fairly credited with no
less than 67 per cent. of all central-station income in the country, and
the proportion has grown since then. It will be readily understood
that under these conditions the modern lighting company supplies to its
customers both incandescent and arc lighting, frequently from the same
dynamo-electric machinery as a source of current; and that the old feud
as between the rival systems has died out. In fact, for some years past
the presidents of the National Electric Light Association have been
chosen almost exclusively from among the managers of the great Edison
lighting companies in the leading cities.

The other strong opposition to the incandescent light came from the gas
industry. There also the most bitter feeling was shown. The gas manager
did not like the arc light, but it interfered only with his street
service, which was not his largest source of income by any means. What
did arouse his ire and indignation was to find this new opponent, the
little incandescent lamp, pushing boldly into the field of interior
lighting, claiming it on a great variety of grounds of superiority, and
calmly ignoring the question of price, because it was so much better.
Newspaper records and the pages of the technical papers of the day
show to what an extent prejudice and passion were stirred up and the
astounding degree to which the opposition to the new light was carried.

Here again was given a most convincing demonstration of the truth that
such an addition to the resources of mankind always carries with it
unsuspected benefits even for its enemies. In two distinct directions
the gas art was immediately helped by Edison's work. The competition was
most salutary in the stimulus it gave to i