The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-01-22
Projected imhropemens on Gos Lighs atfara-
An roodsusofjan

Projected Improvement on Gos Lighs attara-
fus, by condemnation.
Information on the new method OF procur-
ing iighl for houses and ci,ics, containedin
letter from Mr.. David Melville, OF Newport,
X. ]. to tho honorable Samuel l.. Mitchell,
dated November 80. 1916.
SIR-The application OF catbureited hy-
drogen Gas, as substitute tor oil talLow,
&c. in lighung cities, buildings, &C. is q
thing in which have been several years en-
gagged, and in the introduction OF which IL
our country, <eel great interest, altho'
may never derive the be nih, from IL ] once
anticipated. ! take the liberty TO enclose
you plate of an apparatus tor which re-
ceived letters patent in March, lsi0--if any
idea can be collected from II that would be
bene fetal 10 The public, the public is at liber-
ty to avail itself OF il. have lately made an
alteration in my apparatus TO make some ex-
perimonts on the Gas from tar, pitch, tuipeu-
tine and rosin: my house and street-lsmp,
which has for four years been lighted oeca-
sionay with the gas from pit coal, is now
lighted in a no less brilliant manner, with
the gas from rosin. l have not yet progtes-
sed far enough in my experiments TO asoer-
tain with precision which Of the materials
would be most economical, or whether either
OF :hem would be preferable 10 coal, which
produces It's own fuel. have asceEtained,
however, from one experiment, that lab of
rosin will produce SO gallons o! gas, which
will make as much light az % candles OF
TO the ID. and that the returps from the re-
frigcrator( late improvement or condenser.
is one anG half gallons or 2lb Of spirit
or varnisb, which II is the opinlsn OF these
who have ex. mined IL, would be very useful
10 ships use for paying dscks, o, making
blackiDg for the sides, spars, &o.--If so, II is
more valuable than the rosin from which The
gas is produced.
The apparatus for producing gas is uu.
doubtedly, like all other human inven ions,
susceptible Of Improvements, which can only
be ascesisine6 from experience. -
The greaieH obstacles to the Introduction
Of tho gas lights by indviduals particularly
IN compac, cities, is the Erhense Of the ap-
paratus, the trouble Of making the gas, and
the smell it often occasions, Notwithstanding
the greatest care, in the vnciniiy where II is
generated. To obyiate these did ullies, has
caused me much study and expense. ! long
since conceived the idea OF making II portt-
Bile IN small vessels, BY compression with
Forcing syringe or AIR pump, bui had not
brought my plan TO pctfection--recentlyi IN
conversation on the subject with Mr.. Osborn
Parsons of your state, we fixed on the pisn,
and have made some experme nus, which
think justified Us in taking out patent for
il, which we have secured.
have ascertsined from experiment, with
small forcing air pump, that many hundred
g0fionS OF gas can be compressed with on or
dioary power, into tho space Of one gallon
| have ascertained also, that il cannot be done
TO advantage by manual power, since the la
bor to compress il would increase the ex-
pense nearly TO that of iallov or oil but sm
fully convinced, that where a lsrgeg as estabs
lishment Is erected for Ggh,iug city tho
gas can be compressed with large appara-
rus, worked by horse or stean power, to sup.
ply buildings out of the range Of the condu,ts
by means Of portable gasoIneters, TO very
great advantage.
The plan proposed 10 to fit up tLH appa-
ratus, excepting the furnace and reto,s q any
building where the lights are wanted then
with forcing air pump attached TO pipe
leading from the gasometer in the gas mao-
utactoty, and attached to a portable vessel (as
sketched on the enclosed plate) to draw ihs
gas from The gasometer and force il into the
portable vessel in any desired quantity, the
vessel beng made very Urosg, similar TO
the soda water casks, and lined with copper,
or other metal when the desired quantity
is forced in, turn the stop cock 10 retain il 10
the portable vessel, unsersw il from the sif
pump, and convey il to the building to co
lighted, screw j, on to the pipe usually con-
nected with the retert, and torn the key tbs
gas compressed in the portable vessel, will
exporI itself by means Of its own elasticity,
and lili the gasometer to which 1t 10 attach
ed. Here then would be saved the expeacs
Of the retort ana furnace, tho foel and
trouble oi making the gas, snd the smell
which il occasions where il is generated.
am sir, very respectfully, your oh't sery',.
DAVID MELVILLE. -
Dr.. San2ei J.. Mitchell, New York.
IN