Dr. Steinmetz

Charles Proteus Steinmetz, ranked with Marconi, Edison, Tesla, as one of the world's supreme masters of electricity, is dead at 58 in Schenectady, the scene of his 30 years' labors as Chief Consulting Engineer of the General Electric Co. He had recently returned in a weakened condition from a six weeks' lecture tour to the Pacific Coast, and was confined to his bed, but believed to be in no danger. Death was due to chronic myocarditis, sudden failure striking the weakened wall of the heart.

Dr. Steinmetz, unmarried, had no relatives in the U. S. except a half-sister, Miss Clara Steinmetz of Manhattan. But years ago he adopted J. Le Roy Hayden, his chief assistant, who, with his wife and three children, lived in Dr. Steinmetz's home and cherished him as "grandpop."

Early Life. Born in Breslau, Germany, in 1865, the son of a Government railway official, he studied in the Universities of Breslau and Berlin and the Zurich Polytechnic, specializing in mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry and electrical engineering. In 1889 a young American schoolmate persuaded him to come with him to America in the steerage. Steinmetz has been a life-long hunchback, and this, with a temporary illness, defective sight, no money, little English, almost kept him out of the U. S. But the Ellis Island officials finally admitted him on the pleas of his friend. He got a job as a draftsman from Rudolf Eickemeyer, an electrical inventor and manufacturer of electric motors, generators and streetcars, at Yonkers, N. Y. Steinmetz's genius was soon recognized and he was given a laboratory of his own for magnetic testing. In 1892 the General Electric Co. took over the Eickemeyer plant and Steinmetz was transferred to Lynn, Mass., and a year later to Schenectady.

Place in Science. Dr. Steinmetz was not essentially an inventor like Edison, and his name is associated with few specific devices. He was probably the greatest authority in America on electrical theory and engineering mathematics. His special fields of research included synthetic geometry, vector analysis, alternating current, phenomena magnetics and hysteresis, dielectrics, transients and electrochemistry. But he had the knack of interpreting highly technical subjects to laymen, and wrote many popular scientific articles and books, besides no less than nine standard works on electrical theory and mathematics. He was past President of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and a member of numerous American and foreign scientific societies. His laboratory was perhaps the most magnificently equipped of its kind and his experimental work astounded Edison him- self when the latter visited it.

Dr. Steinmetz' chief technical interests were: 1) "Cold" light; 2) Hydroelectric development; 3) electrified railways; 4) electric motor truck (TIME, March 10); 5) artificial lightning. His experiments pre- ceded and made possible the 2,000,000-volt flashes at the Pittsfield plant last June (TIME, June 18). Steinmetz had often predicted the course of future technical development. Last August he wrote that a four-hour day would accomplish all essential work in 2023 A.D. The steam locomotive will be obsolete, smoke eliminated. All heat, power, light furnished by hydroelectricity.

Politics. Steinmetz was an enthusiastic Socialist from his student days in Breslau. The Government considered him dangerous, and was about to prosecute him when he escaped to Switzerland. He never lost his interest in Socialism, though his views became more moderate in later years. Great corporations were willing enough to buy his genius despite his economic opinions. In 1922 Steinmetz offered his technical services to Soviet Russia, but they were declined. He was a naturalized citizen and was always active in politics and community life. Last year he ran for State Engineer on the Socialist and Farmer-Labor tickets. Though defeated he received over 200,000 votes, the most ever cast for a Socialist in New York State. He was a source of great pride to American Socialists. The New York Leader (formerly the Socialist Call) ran a seven-column streamer on the day of his death. He was widely known also for his liberal religious views, his interest in philosophy and other fields transcending the technical. In sum, his mind was one of vast range and breadth as well as keen analytic powers.

Eccentricities. He never received a salary from the Company, but received at his own request irregular amounts when he needed them. But his income was large. He carried no life insurance except a $1,500 employee policy, and his estate will be less than $10,000. The Company built him a house and paid all his expenses.

He rarely used an automobile. He either walked or rode on a trolley next to the motorman.

He never wore an overcoat or a hat, except a coonskin cap in Winter.

He smoked incessantly specially made cigars, which produced a maximum of smoke and a minimum of nicotine. He was the only person allowed to smoke in the plant, and refused to work there unless he were permitted.

He had a gila monster for a favorite pet and a cactus in his garden.