Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-05-10

Ihs eitizeas In this rexoa Of osr State are net awsre
perhaps Of the facilities they possess Tor the psose-
zion OF artificial light We End in our exchange m in
'sresnns article ON the subject Of Goal Gas Light" ia
Cnins' which may prove 20 the euzsns Of Richmond and
lower Virginia. that they have suffered themselves. too
long, TO be In the dark when his .ksn into cousssss-
n'n now abundant tho swsys" and may say, the
ans Tor lighting this vssdy improving City.
saesto the utmost surprise that and
hsve not esen brought into reputation. whereby food
nsn would eirst upon the people Of the Metropolis.
We uust this subject may again be brought before the
citizens and hs, they may prof, by tho exsmps which our
Chinese brethren have % them
COAL GAS LIGHT IN CHINA.
or to what extcot the Chinese arifcialy pro-
ouee Illuminating gss from btsminous coal
tam. But ~ TACT th. spontaneous Jets Of gas, derived
IRON boring into coal beds for centuries been
and turned To 'hatsnd other 1.-THE Chi
nese are not manufacturers, they nevertheless
employer, lsc scale; aud have evident
been So ages before the kno~l dye OF application
acquired by Europeans Beds coal arc frequently pierced
the ooers tor salt water; and the naammsble gas for
eed up In le twenty or thirty feet in height From these
the has been conveyed 10 the sawors ia
pipes and thcrc used tor the boiling and Of the
ait oner tubes convey the gas ,niended for lighting tho
sueen ana inc larger apartments md kitchens. A. there
still moe gas than required the exeess 10 conducted
beyond the limits Of the sawok there forms separate
chimneys or columns OF flame.
One but be struck with the singular
TO tins employment Of natural gas. which may DO daily
witnessed IN the Valley OF the Kanawha vsinia. The
all the processes Of manufacturing salt and Ut the appro
praon Of the surplus for the purposes OF illumination
remarkably alike. At such distant points China and the
United States Those who have read within the pre-
cent month, the Of the extraordinary add
uona supply OF and the servecs made perform
Al the ksnawha salt works. impressed with the
coincidence Of a the circumstances with those which are
very briefly stated in the previous paragraph relation 90
China. Ia fact the parallel is complete.
To the Goals and combusiable minerals Of China can
not further advert here. But what conviction ressubly
presses upon the mind the utility Of the
Railroad system. and coal mining improvements such
empire, ever there were concentrated point all
the circumstances especially and unequivocsy favorable tn
that system and imPerously calling for improvements OF
the character IL be
OF the city of Pekn. Here, with enormous population Of
laOOOO0 souls, is situated only days Journey
computed at thirty mles-irom immense region OF coal
comprising several varieties Yet inhabitants cannot
purchase the best qualities OF this coal brought from
mountains on the backs Of mules and camels, under
Sl 60 ton, and the very less 81 as per
without making unnecessary invdious comparisons,
might not unreasonsbly be suggested that Pekin rail-
road IN connection with the coal Mines would bs more
profitable enterprise in its results than anspo
Of American Goals to China"