The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-14 00:00:00

THE GAS SUPPLY.

Dr. LETHEBY, the gas analyst for the City, reported to the
court that in the course of last quarter there had been 652
examinations of the illuminating power of the gas sup-
plied to the City, and the results were that the mean illu-
minating power of the Great Central Company's gas had
been equal to 14.19 standard sperm candles ; the Chartered
gas to 14.31 candles ; and the City gas to 14.26 candles.
During the whole of the quarter the illuminating power
had been but once under the Parliamentary standard, and
that was in the case of the Great Central gas. In that re-
spect, therefore, the quality of the gas had been very satis-
factory, for it had been about one candle higher than it
was in the corresponding quarter of last year, and two
candles better than the act requ'sed. The che-
mical quality of the C:ty Company's gas had been almost
invariably good. It had been at all times perfectly free
from ammonia and sulphuretted hydrogen, and the average
amount of sulphur in 100 cubic feet had been about 17.5
grains, and the Parliamentary proportion of 20 grains had
been exceeded seven times out of 59. The quantity of sul-
phur in the Chartered gas had also been generally low. It
had averaged 19 grains in the 100 cubic feet, and it had ex-
ceeded the limit of the act on 12 occasions out of 59, but
the proportion of ammonia in the Chartered gas had always
been excessive. The chemical quality of the Great Central
gas had been good in two respects, namely, in the absence
of ammonia and sulphuretted hydrogen ; but the amount of
sulphur in the gas had nearly always been about the quan-
tity sanctioned by Parliament. It had averaged 23.7 per
100 cubic feet, and it had failed to fulfil the requirements
of the act in that respect on 51 occasions out of 55.
The report was ordered, to be printed and circulated
amongst the members of the Court.

Whilst upon the question of the supply of gas to the City,
it may not be out of place to refer to a report presented to
the Court of Common Council by their General Purposes
Committee, to whom it has been referred to consider several
Petitions adopted at a number of the ward meetings, com-
plaining both of the quantity and quality of the gas sup-
•
plied, and the majority of them urging upon the Corpora-
tion to take measures to get a repeal of the present acts of
• Parliament regulating the supply, and to take such mea-
L sures as will secure to the City a better and a cheaper
supply of gas than at present, and by an application to Par-
liament obtain power to undertake, if necessary, the manu-
facture and distribution of the gas within the boundaries of
the City, whereby so essential a commodity might be se-
cured of a good quality and at a moderate price. Among
the wards which petitioned the Corporation to this effect
were those of Farringdon Without, Farringdon Within,
BAldgate, Cripplegate, Port-
n k Thed General Purposes Committee
isnoi sho
their
e nps gadt L,
arn
el:3 Castlengoratstate,
that
they
have been attended by de-
putations representing several petitioners, and having heard
them at length in explanation of their views and opinions,
they had entered upon the subject with that careful con-
sideration which its importance suggested as connected
with the interests of their fellow-citizens. The use of gas
having become so general two material points had naturally
from time to time been urged by the consumers, viz.—the
purity and illuminating power of the gas; and next, the
price that should be charged for it. The Commissioners of
Sewers had, in the discharge of their duty, frequently in-
vestigated the subject as connected more particularly with
the public lighting of the City, but the committee considered
that in reference to them the question was raised as affect-
ing the personal interests of the citizens. Either view,
however, pointed to the same result, and they were there-
fore of opinion that considerable advantage would be de-
rived from conferring with the Commissioners of Sewers.
Their request for this purpose being readily complied with
they had discussed the subject with their special committee
on gas, and had had their attention particularly drawn to
a report recently presented by them to the Court of Sewers,
and to a joint report upon the subject from the engineer
and medical officer of health. The committee, after stat-
ing that they entirely agreed with the special committee,
entered into a general statement of the facts contained in
the report ; but as an abstract of those has already
appeared in the columns of The Sun, it is unneces-
sary to republish them here. The General Purposes
Committee state that, without going further into details,
they believe that the complaints of the petitioners are
borne out by results of inquiry, and tho great question
therefore arose, what remedy should be applied. And upon
that point, again, they had every satisfaction in endorsing
the conclusions of the Commissioners of Sewers, and
though they felt that the action of the Corporation would,
at all events, under the present circumstances, be limited,
whilst that of the Commissioners was general, there was a
unity of purpose which suggested the great desirability of
co-operation in action, and they begged, therefore, to quota
the recommendations of the Special Gas Committee, and
to ask the authority of the Common Council for the com-
mittee to act with the Commissioners in endeavouring to
carry out such measures founded upon those recommen-
dations as would tend to answer the reasonable expecte-
tions of the citizens.

The following were the recommendations of the Special
Gas Committee referred to :-
1. That an offer should again be made to the companies
for the commission to undertake the lighting, cleansing,
extinguishing, and the entire charge of the public lamps,
affixing metres to every twenty lamps or thereabouts, and
adopting such other precautions as will insure a fair ave-
rage consumption.

2. That the companies be requested to affix, at thoir ex-
ens e, governors or regulators to the whole of the public
lamps.

3. That the furthor assistance of the police be, if possible,
obtained in the supervision of the public lighting.
4. That all legal measures to secure to the citizens gas
equal to the Act of Parliament standard of illuminating
power and chemical purity should be resorted to.
5. That an application be made to the Secretary of State
for the Home Department to institute inquiry as to the capi-
tals of the several companies, and for the purpose of secur-
ing to the consumers all the advantages contemplated by the
Metropolis Gas Act, 1860.
6. That, after mature consideration of the subjects re-
ferred
sent time to to fis, we are of opinion that it is inexpedient at the
pre take measures with the view to the com-
mission manufacturing and selling gas ; but that application
be made to Parliament for a modification of the Metropolis
Gas Act, 1860, so far as it affects the city of London, and
especially with the view of obtaining for the citizens gas of
a higher illuminating power, of greater chemical purity,
and at a cheaper price than that now supplied, and such
other powers as may be beneficial to the ratepayers and gas
consumers in the City.
The General Purposes Committee state that they further
agree in the opinion expressed by the commissioners that,
should the commission fail in its endeavours to benefit and
protect the public, it should be a recommendation to the
Court to consider the propriety of providing the means for
constructing works, laying down pipes, and undertaking the
manufactures of gas for the citizens. The report of the
General Purposes Committee will, it is understood, be con-
sidered at the next Common Council meeting.
The commissioners, after transacting some further busi-
ness, adjourned.

KAM:IBM...This Day,
ivrARK-T.,AisTE. •
The arrivals of English wheat fresh up to our market
to-day were very moderate. Most samples being received
in good condition, and the supply on the stands being
limited, factors held both red and white qualities at full
prices. Sales progressed slowly, and the quotations were
unaltered from Monday.

Only a moderate supply of foreign wheat was on offer.
American and good and fine old continental wheats were
firm in price ; otherwise, the foreign wheat trade ruled
quiet at late rates.

Floating cargoes of grain Were in steady request, and
prices ruled firm.

dofistbilliarinegyqounalsiatlie was very moderato. Both
es moved off slowly at late
gr it Theensd. i n sgu Pa
ni) Idy

and prices ruled firm.
Brans ns
The malt trade was quiet on former terms.
The market was well supplied with oats. Most descrip-
tions
full currencies. The mar-
tiowei•
andpeas werey
mar-
ket was very scantily supplied with both both articles.
were in steadreq
filst
Iu flour a moderate business was transacted at late rates.

ARRIVALS TICS
Whoat.Barloy. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English and Scotch 290 --890 GO 220
h
Foreign —— . 60
13,260 3,080 14,240 140 sks.
brls

COMPARATIVE QUANTITIES AND PRICES OF GRAIN. -
For the week ending Juno For the corresponding week
10, 1865. last yr.
Qrs. Aver. Qrsea Aver.
Wheat 57,704-41 s 5d Wheat ... 55,331-38 s lid
Barley 2,751-28s 8d 8ar1ey........... • 4,006-29 s 6d
Oats

BOROUGH HOP.
The hop market is decidedly quiet. In prices scarcely
any change has taken place.

WHITtCHAPEL.

The supply of meat ou sale is very moderate. The trade
is slow, as follows :

; mutton, 4s 4d to bs 8d ;
lamßbe,ef6; sfrOodni to Gs 6(l
8d to ;
43s 8d to 45 10d per Blbs, by the carcase.
vsea 8
l,
3s 10.1 to 48 10d ; and pork,