" The Pearl Street system of
1882 had been based low voltage direct current which gave it
a supply radius few square miles around the central
station. The
very high price copper made the Edison system uneconomical
over supply area greater than two square miles, and this
prevented the growth the system. The short supply area was appropriate for pilot
system where corrections and repairs had carried out
continually, but the popularity electricity grew, the
small supply radius became liability. The problem with low
voltage direct current was that the size the copper
conductor had increased with the supply distance. His electrical experiments at
West Orange were therefore primarily directed increasing the
efficiency the lighting system and decreasing the costs of
. Consequently, one the most
important, and pressing, R&D campaigns the West Orange
laboratory was directed lowering the costs distributing
electricity over larger areas.V-10
The main technological problem solved before the
second generation electrical technology could begin was the
cost the supply network.
Johnson (President the Edison Electric Light Company) in
November 1887 shows that the earliest electrical concern the
new laboratory was the development technology "useful for
bringing power distance. note from Edison Edward H.
The very sharp increase the price copper had not
gone unnoticed Edison, nor had the commercial potential of
expanding the distribution area
