Polyphase Electric Currents and Alternate-Current Motors #249053

No apology is needed for devoting special attention at the present time to the subject of polyphase electric currents. There seems to be no doubt that in the problem of the electric transmission of power a very important part will, in the future, be played by alternating currents combined in systems of two or three different phases. Already a number of examples exist; and some very large works are now in course of construction. The undoubted advantages possessed by polyphase systems over either (a) continuous current systems, or (¿) ordinary single phase alternate currents, for the special service of power transmission, are beyond question; but it remains to be seen how far the complications thereby inevitably introduced are, in practice, sufficiently great to militate against polyphase distribution for the purpose of general electric lighting supplies.