Mercury vs. Steam

Poor old steam power, staggering under the body blows of electricity, has now to face another enemy. A mercury boiler 50% more efficient than the best steam turbine, and considered by engineers the "greatest advance in power production in many years," is the latest achievement of the General Electric Co. W. LeR. Emmet, consulting engineer of the Company, is the man behind the boiler. Time will be required to develop and perfect the system, but two of the boilers already exist, one in the laboratories at the Schenectady works, the other in actual and successful operation at a generating station of the Hartford (Conn.) Electric Co.