The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-01 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD LIGHTED WITH GAS

Another great stride has been made in the improvement of
Birkenhead, which was, on Saturday night last, lighted up,
for the first time, with gas. We have more than once, in the
course of our remarks on the growing importance of this
place, spoken of the enterprising spirit of Mr. Wm. Jack-
son. who is ever foremost amongst those who seek to procure
for the inhabitants of Birkenhead every available advantage.
His public spirit in accepting a contract of such importance
as the supply of gas to such a community as that of the town
in question, for so long a period, on his own individual re.
sponsibility, destitute of any act of incorporation, and of the
usual powers for the easy recovery of debts, cannot be too
highly applauded. It shows that regardless of personal risk,
he is ready to undertake anything within his power that will
tend to the general good and convenience of those by whom
he is surrounded. We look upon the work that has just been
so happily completed under his auspices, as one of the greatest
advances that the township has yet made. The illumination
of the streets and avenues of Birkenhead with gas, as it will
make the place greatly more agreeable for residence, will tend
to give still more decided impulse to its fast growing im-
portance, and in a still greater degree to increase its popula-
tion. _ _

It is barely four months since the operations for the erec-
tion of the gas-works at Birkenhead were commenced. Dur-
ing a great portion of this time the business was retarded by
unfavourable weather, so that the whole erection has been
completed in about nine weeks, though from the nature of
the ground the work was one of great labour and difficulty.
The contractors for the erection were Messrs. J. and W.
Walker, Mr. Henry Steel, the engineer of the new Liverpool
Gas Company, directing the construction of the apparatus.
Mr. Hedley, the present manager of the works, was in con-
stant attendance from the commencement ; and to the active
superintendence of these gentlemen may be attributed the
steady and rapid advance of the undertaking to its present
state of perfection. From the time when the first ground
was broken to the present, all has progressed smoothly, not
one accident of any sort having occurred during the whole
time. The building is a very neat and handsome structure
of stone and brick, sufficiently large for present purposes,
and so constructed that it can be enlarged by the erection of
other compartments, so as to meet the growing wants of the
neighbourhood. The apparatus has been made on the best
principle, and many improvements, suggested by Mr. Steel,
have been made in both that and the building.
The streets of the township, now that they are so brilliantly
lighted, present an unusually handsome, and, in some in-
stances, elegant appearance, The gas is made from the best
cannel coal, and is particularly clear and bright. The shops
are generally most superbly illuminated, and many houses
have already been fitted up for being lighted with gas. The
street lamps are not unlike those of Liverpool, and the lights
therein are large, and exceedingly effective. About seven
miles of mains have been laid, so that there is scarcely an
inhabited thoroughfare in the township that is not now illu-
minated. The railway Station is most brilliantly lighted up,
which will be a great convenience to passengers by the trains.
The churches and chapels in the vicinity are also availing
themselves of the advantage which has been placed within
their reach, and they will all, ere long, be lighted with gas.
In the market the improvement is felt to be of the highest
value, and its shops and area present, instead of the gloom
which lately pervaded them after sunset, a glare equal to that
of noonday. No part of Birkenhead will feel the advantage
more strongly than the ferries. Here, we have no doubt,
the superior light will be the means of preventing many acci-
dents. The slips and piers are now easily discernible, the
beams of the gas being scattered far and wide over the spar-
kling waters of the Mersey. The ferry at Woodside is most
profusely lighted, and, as it is approached from the river,
presents a very beautiful object to the spectator. Indeed,
the whole town, when viewed from the water at night, has a
brilliant and striking appearance, from the innumerable dots
of light with which it is spangled. We 'trust the speculation
will turn out profitable to the spirited contractor, and that it
will long be our pleasing task to record instances of the ad-
vancing wealth and prosperity of Birkenhead.

The lately apparent convalescence of Lord Albert
Conyngham has been succeeded by a relapse of the most
alarming nature, from which fears of the worst have been
hourly anticipated.—Kentish. Gazette.