Genre:

Regular Feature, Editorial, News-Commentary

Subjects:

Transport, Machinery, Technology, Industry, Political Economy, Bacteriology, Electricity, Sanitation, Magic

    Remarks on the revival of economic confidence in the City of London, noting that the 'cycle industry has at last been firmly established on the Stock Exchange, and if Parliament will but pass the Bill authorising the use of horseless carriages, there would be another great stimulus given to a form of enterprise, that could hardly fail to give new life to many a district which by the growth of great towns and great railways are left stranded high and dry' (485–86). Also reports that in 'the ceaseless battle which mankind wages with the invisible bacteria that are now held responsible for all manner of diseases, it would seem that electricity is destined to give the victory to man. By passing a current of electricity through sea-water, or through any water to which salt has been added, it is possible to destroy the bacteria which swarm sometimes to the extent of 10,000,000 per cubic centimetre. An experimental plant has been put up at Maidenhead, where the Maidenhead sewage has been treated with extraordinary results. If electrozone—for such is the name of the electrified sea-water—really accomplishes all that is planned for it, all existing disinfectants, from carbolic acid downwards, will vanish into limbo, and our cities will find the difficulty of dealing with their sewage vanished as by a stroke of a magician's wand' (486–87).