Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 643 City of Light! (Seeking monthly votes)

April 21, 1884, evening, New York, Upper West Side.

The "Carriage Mountain" at the northwest corner of the intersection of Central Park West and 72nd Street has become the focus of all of New York and even the entire United States.

On the flat open space at the top of the hill, a temporary platform was erected, with a dark blue velvet curtain drawn behind it.

The curtain is embroidered with the prominent Morgan family crest and the initials of "Sorel-Morgan Electric" in gold thread.

The area in front of the podium was packed with people.

The New York Herald, the New York Tribune, The Sun... all the well-known newspapers sent their best interview teams.

Even more noteworthy were the correspondents from major foreign newspapers: The Times, Le Figaro, Berliner Zeitung, Vienna News… not a single media outlet wanted to miss this grand event.

Unlike any previous press conference, an astonishing number of cameras were present. Photographers busily adjusted their tripods, searching for better shooting angles.

On one side of the podium, old Morgan was speaking quietly with Lionel and Tesla. He had specially tucked a bright red carnation into the breast pocket of his suit for the occasion.

The setting sun finally sank slowly below the surface of the Hudson River, leaving only a magnificent purplish-red hue on the horizon.

Old Morgan glanced at his pocket watch, nodded to Lionel, and then steadily walked to the center of the podium.

The buzzing from the audience gradually subsided, and all eyes turned to this financial and industrial tycoon.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for gracing this place on such a beautiful evening!"

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the dense crowd below the stage.

"Tonight, we will witness not only a demonstration of technology, but also the dawn of a new era."

Electricity, this powerful force from nature, has been tamed by intelligent human engineers in the past few years.

Tonight, we will prove to you that electricity has the potential to illuminate entire cities and even entire countries!

He then introduced and thanked Lionel and Tesla, and invited them to come on stage and stand beside him.

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the group of reporters: "Mr. Morgan! Please forgive my intrusion, Charles Miller of the New York Herald."

To the best of our knowledge, you and your family have long been staunch supporters and investors of Mr. Thomas Edison and his direct current systems.

Now that your stance has undergone such a fundamental shift, does it mean that your collaboration with Mr. Edison has come to an end?

This was a very pointed question, and the audience fell silent instantly, everyone pricking up their ears to wait for Morgan's answer.

Old Morgan's smile remained unchanged; he even nodded slightly: "Mr. Miller, thank you for your question. First, I want to clarify one point—"

Thomas and I maintain a close business relationship and a deep personal friendship. Thomas was an unparalleled inventor whose talent and contributions to science deserve the respect of all.

But the Morgan family's responsibility is to choose the technologies that will best benefit the public and shape America's future. This has nothing to do with personal preference, nor does it affect my friendship with Thomas.

The reporter opened his mouth as if he wanted to ask something more, but old Morgan didn't give him the chance.

He looked up at the now completely dark sky, then turned to Lionel and Tesla and said, "It's time."

The three of them walked together to the side of the podium, where there was a small control panel with a black iron pillar about half a person's height standing on it, topped with a large red button.

Morgan Sr. extended his hand, and Lionel and Tesla placed their hands in return: "Now, we will illuminate the future!"

Three hands simultaneously pressed the large red button on the control panel.

At first, it seemed like nothing was happening, but after about two or three seconds, the miracle unfolded before people's eyes.

The first building to light up was the magnificent Dakota Apartments, located directly in front of the podium on 72nd Street.

This newly completed, trendiest apartment building in New York City is nine stories high, equipped with steam elevators and a large open-air courtyard in the center.

At that moment, it was as if an invisible hand had instantly awakened it from within, from the ground floor to the top floor, from the facade facing the street to the inner courtyard... Hundreds and thousands of windows simultaneously emitted a steady and soft yellow-white light!
The light was so even and bright that every detail of the building was clearly visible, and the Renaissance sculptures seemed to come alive.

The Dakota Apartments have now become a dazzling, luminous palace!

A gasp of disbelief erupted from the crowd. But this was just the beginning—

The next moment, as if an invisible domino had been toppled, a ripple of light spread rapidly outward from the Dakota apartment.

The detached villas and luxury homes scattered on the west side of Central Park, which were originally only vaguely visible in the twilight, are now lit up one after another, one area after another!

First, it was the nearby buildings, then those further away; the light quickly spread in both the north and south directions. The windows, porches, and even the gazebos in the gardens of dozens or even hundreds of buildings began to shimmer.

These points of light joined together to form a dazzling ribbon of light that stretched along the west side of Central Park, like a giant torch suddenly ignited on a dark landscape. New York in 1884 was already a highly modernized metropolis, with almost every building and street illuminated by gaslighting.

But at this moment, the Dakota Apartments and the surrounding buildings are brighter than any other neighborhood in New York!

The gasps of surprise had merged into a deafening clamor, and many people instinctively covered their mouths with their hands, their eyes wide with shock.

However, the most shocking climax was yet to come.

While people's attention was still focused on the "sea of ​​light" in that residential area, Central Park beneath their feet also began to awaken.

Along the main road that winds through the park, strings of pearl-like lights illuminate one after another. These are not flickering, dim gas streetlights, but steady, bright electric lights.

They clearly delineate the lines of the park's roads, like jewel necklaces inlaid on dark green velvet, extending and intersecting in the vast heart of the park.

The lights illuminated the trees, bridges, and lawns along the way, making Central Park a dreamlike world at night, echoing the magnificent "torches" of the residential area not far away.

Some lights even extend to the lakeside and hillside deep in the park, their shimmering reflections swaying gently in the breeze on the water's surface.

From the "Palace of Light" at the Dakota Apartments to the "Torch Belt" in the surrounding residential areas, and the "Jewel Necklace" in Central Park...

These three layers of light, stacked one on top of the other, create a magnificent picture that transcends the imagination of our time.

Electric lights have completely conquered the darkness, announcing the arrival of their era on an unprecedented scale!
The noise around the podium stopped, and a deathly silence fell.

All the journalists, whether seasoned veterans of New York newspapers or seasoned observers from Europe, were speechless at this moment.

They stared back, mouths agape, their faces a mask of shock and bewilderment. The photographers even forgot to press the shutter button on their cameras.

But the silence lasted only a few seconds.

"Get out of the way! Take a picture!" A roar broke the silence.

In an instant, as if a dam had burst, the blinding white light of the magnesium flash began to flash wildly!

The sounds of explosions—"Puff! Puff! Puff!"—were continuous, puffs of white smoke rose from the crowd, and a pungent smell filled the air.

The photographers were like madmen, frantically pressing the shutter, spinning the film canisters, and lighting new magnesium powder trays. They knew they were recording history.

Morgan ignored the commotion below the stage. He stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the platform, quietly admiring the dazzling spectacle that he and his partners had personally illuminated.

He turned his head slightly and whispered something to Lionel standing beside him, his voice so soft that only the two of them could hear it:

"I have a feeling that Thomas's era is over..."

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The following day, almost every newspaper in New York revolved around the spectacle of the previous night on its front page.

The front-page headline of The New York World read: "Alternating current lights up the north corner of Manhattan, heralding the arrival of the electric age!"

The article details the stunning lighting process from the Dakota Apartments to Central Park, and emphasizes:
The energy that powers these tens of thousands of lights comes from an AC power plant located 20 kilometers away in the Bronx.

This fact proves that alternating current has unparalleled advantages in long-distance transmission, being more efficient and cleaner.

"Sorel-Morgan Electric" not only illuminates the night, but also lights up the future!

The New York Herald was equally lavish in its praise, even going so far as to directly criticize Edison's direct current:

This was a landmark moment in the history of municipal lighting, dwarfing even the "lighthouse" that Mr. Edison had previously displayed at the Electricity Exposition.

The Sun's headline was even more direct, even provocative: "The death knell for direct current has tolled!"

Reports from European newspapers quickly followed. Le Figaro, in particular, was filled with a strong sense of national pride in every word.

Under the wise guidance of Mr. Lionel Sorel, French alternating current shone brightly in New York. This was not only a victory for technology, but also a triumph for the French spirit of innovation!

The Times' report, however, was somewhat sour:
From this day forward, New York's nights will be brighter than London's. Britain should reflect on why it has fallen behind in this electricity race.

The Berliner Zeitung concluded directly: "The age of electricity has arrived. Victory belongs to alternating current."

Public opinion seemed to shift overnight, completely abandoning Thomas Edison and his direct current system.

In Menlo Park, New Jersey, the atmosphere in Thomas Edison's laboratory was so somber it felt like a funeral was taking place.

(First update, please vote with monthly tickets!)

(End of this chapter)