Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-27
Nem-Y o,h. December 90.

HIGHLY IMPORTANf-Siore so than
the escape OF Bonaparte from st. Helena, or
all account os thousands slain in battle.
Projected improvement on Gas Light apparatus, by
condensation.
Information on tie new method OF procuring
light for houses and cities, contained i'll a let
ter from MIR. David Melville, OF \ ewpoTt, r. /.
10 The Hon. Samue! J.. MITCHELL dated Nov.
so, iSi6.
SiR-The application of carburetted hydro.
gen Gas, as substitute for oil, tallow, &c. in
lighting cities, buildings, sc. is a thing in
which have been several years engaged, and
in the introduction OF which i'll our country, |
feel great interest, although may never de-
rive the benefit from Il once anticipated.
take the liberty 50 enclose YOU plate of an
apparatus, for which received letters patent
in March, 1910. Ifany ideas can be collected
from Il, which would be beneficial To the pub
lc the public is at liberty to avail Itself OF it,
} have lately made an alteration in my appa-
f;ttus 10 make some experiments oil tile GaS,
from Tar, Pitch, Tuipontiue, aud Rosin my
house and street lamp, which has for years
been lighted occasionally with the Gas from
pi.-coal il now lighted in no less brilliant
iuanE CT, with the Uas, IRON kOsT. have not
vet progressed far enough in my experiments
80 ascertain with precision which OF the mate
rails would be most economical, or whether
either OF them wOuld be preferable to coal,
tshichproduces its own fuel. have ascertain
ed horseger from one experiment, that Lib. Of
fsosin will produce GOO gallons OF GaS, winch
viii make as much light as II candles OF
o to the pOHnd, and that the returns from tic
refrigerator "a late improvement or condenser
is ore and hal gdOHS, or tceIre pound aSpfrit
OF Furnish whichitis the opinion OF those who
have exarnjnedit, would be very useful IN ships
use for paving decks, or making backing for
the sides spaTs, &c.-if so, il is more valuable
than the il0sn frem which The Gas Is produced.
The apparatus for producing Gas, IS I'M
doubtedly, like all other human inventions,
susceptible Of improvements, whichcan only be
asceriained from experience.
The greatest obstacles ~ the introduction OF
the Gas-Lghts by individuals, particularly in
compact cities, is the erpcnce of the apparatus,
the trouble OF making the Gas, aud the smell IL
often occasions notwithstanding The groatc, t
care. iE the vicinity wheIettis generated. 10
obWate these difficulties, has caused me much
study and cXpcuce. long sinccconceiYed the
idea OF mal liig II portable ia small vessels, by
compression with JOrcpg syringe or or gR"p,
out had not brought my ylau 10 perfection
Elr. Osborn Parsons, Of your state, " re- tlXcd on
me plan. ard have made some experiments,
which thinls instiiies us IN taking Ont patent
Tor IT, which we have secured.
have atcertalned from experiment with q
small forcing air-pump, that Dtqsiy hundred gal
Inns Of Gas, can he compressed Wiihan ordlBa-
~ poNet. iuto tie space Os Ong gallon. have
ascertaiued, also, that IL cannot be done to adj
vantage by mannal power, since tile labor 10
coulrfosa II would increase thc expense nearly
20 tEai .. ta!iow or oil; bat am fully conVinc-
4 that whore o large Gas establishment rs g.
g.csr elF lighting a city, the Gas eau lie ON
,rrs iit a large apparatus, woraef By
IAN. .,n,yf 70 suurlI.-- uuitCfr Out