The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-20
From The Buffalo Gassae.

Gas Tor lighting purposes is obtained from three
sources The one which is in greatest use for this
purpose, is whale oil. Coal and rosn are sometimes
used The gas obtained from oil is much purer
and OF better burning qualities than that from other
sources IL is now little over a century since gas
for the purposes Of illumination, was first employed
But II was not until about the year 1885, that it was
very extensively used-and then a small scale for
lighting factories in the vicinity Of London. From
that period II has gradually into USE Europe
and TINS country for lighting stores shops manuac-
tories, dwellings and streets. For many years this
gas was entirely obtained in England by the distilla-
ton Of bitumnous coal But, at the present time
that from oil is chiefly used
Ofihe effect OF gas lights upon the morals Of Lon
don, The Opuatre Chemist, published in that city,
says From the more Brilliant manner in which
our streets are lighted by gas than they could be by
OIL or allow there 4. greater degree of security both
OF LIE and property. Crimes cannot now be commit
ted In darkness and secrecy and the risk Of de-
teciion increases the temptation TO guilt IL di ninish
ed, and thus gas, by th. brilliant light which sheds
upon our streets, has worked, and is now working,
moral reformation. The house breaker and The pick
pocket dread the lamps more than the wschm and
more emcacious measure Of police was never intro
dueed into society Than that from gas lights
The gas now in general use in all the large cities
OF this country, Is made by the Oscillation of impure
whale or other oil Rosn has Of late been used and
the gas produced is about equal 10 quality to tina, Of
oil. But from some cause, the ufacture from this
sourse has never extended
According TO experiments made at the gas work.
IN New York, one cubic foot Of oil gas will give
Ugh, Tor one hour equal to eight candle. Of six to the
pound One gallon Of good whale oil will make 100
cubic feet OF gas and, according to the results of
the above experiments i'll burn loo hours and give
light equal to eight candles Such great disparity in
the cost OF the dherenl would seem to render IT
matter OF economy TO use gas in preference to oil or
taiow. But the expense Of erecting works for It's
manufacture Is such, that establishments Of the kind
would not paw, unless large number Of light, we're
required. The cost OF works sufficient to supply
1000 lights IS estimated at Sl2 900. This estimate
included sufficient length OF main pipe to accom-
modae the required number Of lights.
Burning gas is frequently produced naturally
Near fredonia there Is large quantity which issues
from The bank Of a small stream. II was attempted
lew years since TO use Il in the light house at Dun
KIRK, but II was ascertained that Il would not run
dorm hui, and as the ground descending il could
not be conveyed TO the lake About eighteen mile.
south OF this city, in the town Of Aurora there is
another OF these gas springs, which when gnited give
brilliant light This natural gas is undoubtedly
produced by the action OF water upon beds of coal
situated FAR beneath the surface and finds ts way out
through the assures OF rock il is generally found on
the bank, OF streams which arc composed of slate
M T.