All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

202 All About Inventions welfare of the infant he had raised, to devote his whole time, thought, and energies to its perfection. Consequently, in 1889 he severed his connection with the firm of which he had become a partner barely six years before. He established small works at Heaton, outside Newcastle, where he undertook the con- struction of turbines and dynamos. Incidentally it may be mentioned, that in setting out upon his own account in this manner he not only established a further business which was destined to attain considerable dimensions, but he also created a new source of wealth by originating and developing a new industry. The decision was partly influenced by another far- reaching move which was then rapidly maturing. A number of leaders of commerce of Newcastle and neighbourhood foresaw the demand that was certain to arise in the area for the purchase of electric current for lighting and power. The teeming yards and shops which contribute to the prosperity of the city upon the Tyne offered attractive virgin soil for the supply of the “ juice ” upon an extensive scale, and for which the demand would steadily increase. These hard- headed, perspicacious business pioneers had heard about, and had watched, the new invention which, although still young, was rapidly maturing. When, therefore, the Newcastle and District Elec- tric Lighting Company, Limited, was brought into existence, it was decided to equip the power station with the Parsons’ turbine. This represented the first application of the new steam-engine to the public supply of electricity, a field which the inventor had always maintained to hold out the most attractive possibilities. As he had confidently expected, the