フランクフルト国際電気技術博覧会とその帰結 : 近代ドイツにおける都市電力ネットワーク形成の一モデル

抄録

The aim of this article is to investigate the formation of the urban electric power network in Frankfurt am Main during the transition from the direct-current to the alternating-current system. In the late nineteenth century, the 'System Controversy', that is, the conflict between advocates of the direct-current system and those of the alternating-current system, was proving to be a significant socio-economic issue in western countries, especially in large cities. This coincided with the deliberations of the Frankfurt municipality over the introduction of electricity services into the city, and the citizens decided to hold the International Exhibition of Electric Technology there in 1891, in order to produce a decision on the controversy. In the exhibition an experiment with long-distance transmission of electricity using the three phase alternating-current was carried out successfully and the controversy was terminated. The outcome of the exhibition determined which system would dominate, not only in Frankfurt but also all over the world. Therefore Frankfurt can be defined as the pioneering case of urban electrification using the alternating-current system, as the result of a successful experiment. This article shows furthermore that the municipality aimed throughout to control the electrical service for the development of rational urban planning and social policy.