The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-25
0as Lighting.
To JANIS GoRDoN BENNETT, ESQ. -

10 JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Esq. -
DEAR Sn,
Having seen an article in your paper, Uhe New
York Herald) of 10th ult on Gas Lighting ana sup,
plying the city OF New York with Portable Gas,
wish to make few remarks on the same subject,
showing some of the advantages which would &C
into this city. Having superintendent oil gas works
rience, and should you think it Of benefit to the
public, please give 1t insertion in your valuable
paper and oblige the subscriber.
Having used oil as substance, from which gas
tor illumination Is easily and cheapy prepared, and
been employed in the erection Of works. and also
in the construction Of apparatus for the decomposi-
ton Of this body, have FULLY experienced its nu-
merous advantages over Goals rosin it produces
the most pure and brilliant flame from the inferior
The apparatus is much smaller, much simpler,
and yet equally eectua with the best coal rosin
apparatus. The retort Is similar to those used In
rosn gas Establishments into which the oil Is al
lowed to drop by a very ingenious apparatus. The
oil is Immediately volatalized, and the vapor In
traversing the pipes becomes perfectly decomposed;
a m. xture of inhammable gases which contains
great portion OF ollifian gas passes OH 1t Is washed
by being passed through vessel OF water, and Is
then conducted to the gas holder.
The facility and cleanliness with which gas is
prepared from oil in the above manner, may be
easily conceived is very superior in quality to that
| of Goals or rosin, as it cannot possibly contain sui
phuretted hydrogen other extraneous substances;
it gives much brighter and denser fame, and it is
l
supply the burner with fuel. These pecuiarties
are occasoned, in the first place, by the absence Of
| sulphur from oil; also by the gas containing more
carbon in solution, as the proportion OF light given
out by the flame OF a gaseous compound OF carbon
and hydrogen, Is, In common circumstances, IN
proportion to the quantity OF carbon present 1t is
evident that the gas which contains greater por-
ton OF oant gas supercarburetted hydrogen
those Goals rosin will yield better brighter
light on combustion.
tits therefore, necessary in consequence Of the abua
If oh n,tin Akn
burning with plenty Of atmospheric air, for, there is
combustble matter in certain volume of oil gas
have OXYGEN for its consumption The consequence
is that less gas must be burnt in flame Of equal size
which will still possess superior brlancy that less is
necessary for the purpose of illumination and that less
heat will he occasoned.
Six cubic feet of coal gas is required to supply
gand burner tor hour and two two and half Of oil
gas is abundsnty sufficient for the ssme purpose.
One important advantage gained by the circumstance
ing that the works required may be in proportion.
The very compact state in which the apparatus neces
sary for the decomposition of oil be placed the slight
degree of attention required its certainty Of action its
cleanliness, and the numerous applications which I'd
ms Of in the use Of ts furnaces for other convenient
economical purposes render it only unobjectionable
but useful in manufactures establishments and thes'
favorable circumstances, not from any fnericrity in
flame increased expense but BY an improved state oil
| the first and saving in the latter.
The economy Of obtaining gas. for the production Of
light from OIL may be judged from the following data
| One gallon of common whale oil will produce ninety
cubic feet an argand burner requires cubic foo
and half OF hours and consequently gallon OF
oil when converted into gas, will supply the burner
| for sixty hours.
The expense OF the gas at moderate price Of OIL will
be allowing for Goals labor &c. for producing the gas
three arthings per hour Now supposng ten candles
be burning, four to the pound (wo pound and half)
hey will cost two shlings and eleven pence of which
onetenth part will be consumed in each hours the
Of the tallow light then threepence halpenny per
| hour.
Ifwax candles be employed the expense Of the light
equal oil gas burner for hour the mode
reasoning allowing the candles to burn ten hours and
Itoy nriCnn nj NJ
and xpence pound will be about fourteen pence.
The comparative account will, therefore, standt thus
s. Pence
| Cost of an argond burner, supplied with
oil gas, per hour. ........ OF
| Do Of an argand lamp, burning sperma-
Do of tsllow mould candles. ...,... 0 81
Do wax candles. ..,...,.. ..... Ola
These calculations the cost light from oil gas
taken at the usual price Of good whale oil but cheaper
oils will answer the purpose nearly well; and many