ing was vital. The building was equipped in such a
manner that the striking of the fire-alarm would light every lamp in
the house automatically and liberate the horses. It was at this central
station that Lieutenant Sprague began his historic work on the electric
motor; and here that another distinguished engineer and inventor, Mr. H.
Ward Leonard, installed the meters and became meter man, in order that
he might study in every intimate detail the improvements and refinements
necessary in that branch of the industry.

The authors are indebted for these facts and some other data embodied in
this book to Mr. W. J. Jenks, who as manager of this plant here made his
debut in the Edison ranks. He had been connected with local telephone
interests, but resigned to take active charge of this plant, imbibing
quickly the traditional Edison spirit, working hard all day and sleeping
in the station at night on a cot brought there for that purpose. It
was a time of uninterrupted watchfulness. The difficulty of obtaining
engineers in those days to run the high-speed engines (three hundred and
fifty revolutions per minute) is well illustrated by an amusing incident
in the very early history of the station. A locomotive engineer had
been engaged, as it was supposed he would not be afraid of anything. One
evening there came a sudden flash of fire and a spluttering, sizzling
noise. There had been a short-circuit on the copper mains in the
station. The fireman hid behind the boiler and the engineer jumped out
of the window. Mr. Sprague realized the trouble, quickly threw off the
current and stopped the engine.

Mr. Jenks relates another humorous incident in connection with this
plant: "One night I heard a knock at the office door, and on opening it
saw two well-dressed ladies, who asked if they might be shown through.
I invited them in, taking them first to the boiler-room, where I showed
them the coal-pile, explaining that this was used to generate steam in
the boiler. We then went to the dynamo-room, where I pointed out the
machines converting the steam-power into electricity, appearing later in
the form of light in the lamps. After that they were shown the meters
by which the consumption of current was measured. They appeared to be
interested, and I proceeded to enter upon a comparison of coal made
into gas or burned under a boiler to be converted into electricity. The
ladies thanked me effusively and brought their visit to a close. As t