Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-12-10
From the Washington Unon.l
Crutchctcs Solar Gas at the CAPITOL.

We have already alluded to the first lighting
Of the Capitol by solar gas, and the lofty lantern
over the dome. and the effect produced on lis
and, on the information of Mr.. Crutch-tt, we
proceed to redeem our pledge
The solar gas, invented by Mr.. ]. Crutchott.
is manufactured in small room adjoining tn,
sub-bascmcnt of the Capitol and consists Of
small stoves and cylindrical retor,s. enclosed in
brick and iron frames. The apparatus is double,
so as to provide for the use of one while the
other may be repaired or cleaned. 1t produces
crude gas rapidly from the commonest crude
oils OF an IN j, mineral, or vegetable substances
atlording it. Thus. common whale oil. or foot,
cotton-secd oil, &c.-greisc from any source
supply the material. On passing through the
cylinders, which are heated to rcdncss, all i'm
puritics other than carburcttcd hydrogen are So
perated in the most simple manner, and fitted
for transit into the gas-hoder, where the gas
passes by virtue or force of the pressure under
which it is generated. This part Of the works
is situated in the centre of the area inside the
northwest terrace the water-tank, receiving
the gas-holdcr. being surmounted with beau-
lliu massive granite stose, (curUstuhe.) having
six iron pillars around il, supporting a corncc,
all bron2cd-giving it neat finish, and making
it an ornament to that part of the Capitci here
tofore the repository of coal. wood &c, Whcn-
ever gas is being used. Just in proportion to the
cons imption, the gas flows from the gas-huIder
and in its passage through the tubes to the bur
ners, it is made to operate (by its pres>ure) on
another apparatus, which, in its operation bring
in combination with the gts a certain amount
of atmosphere, the oxygen of wLi,h goes to fix
the rich carbon of gas a light and the amount
of aaotc produces Soflness and colorto the light,
of the most agreeable kin Ian effect not found
TO arise in any other light so that however in
tense the light may be, it can be looked a. b.
the eve, and afterwards the smallest print may
BE- seen proving lis adaptation 10 the purposes
of sight above any other artificial light known ;
besides which, it produces a sensation of plea
sure that cannot be described. and does not at
/ fec or tire the person using or seeing il. The
main and supply pipes conducting the gas from
the holder to the burners, altogether nearly tw3
miles in length. are laid or let into the solid
walls, arches. and flooring (brick AMI >tonr) OF
the building, being work of great labor and
/ expense. Ga threading the various passages
] rDtundoeS, rooms, &c, of the Capitol, yDn see
! the nm rous lights from the walls AMI ceiling
and are naturally led to seek for source from
whence the supply comes. But vain is the
search the walls are solid hard. and smooth
the inquirer Some suppose the light is in tlr
metal Others think there is some IN lgic about it
One individual (lrom the Emerald l-!e) unl,r
to * TO snuff out the li.it Nth s""iiars an,
after various unsuccessful cnjrt> and burns, con
cluIed it was IN some way connected with tn,
lower regions The brackets, p'niint- an,
chandeliers ~; the o.lices rooms, passages, Ne
are of the best kind -mtdc expressly for III
places they tiIl-and show that this kind Z"
manufacture equals any in Europe, both for pat
tern and finish. But the GROWING merits oI
this work are the great chandeliers in the Sen
ate chamber and hall of Representatives. Mr.,
Crutchett agreed, in the terms OF ms contract,
to put mp in the Senate chamber, hall of Repre-
sentatves, rotnndp and lantern over the dome,
one of his improved conccn'ric gas burners, The
one in the Senate chamber is enclosed by va.
rious rings of open brass-worE-g ilded, suspended
by vine chains each ring has attached to il,
lower rim glass drops and priSms one below
another, so that the whole together forms an in
vertcd cone of glass aud gllded work, open
enough to discover the powerful burner in the
centre, which gives the light of 5000 sperm
candles. Over the large burner, and forming
an exterior ring ofthe chandelier, are tubes and
valves arranged in form of thirteen stars,
hung also with glass. producing By daylight a
suitable arrangement To the chamber; and.
Wncu Inc, Tue ItlH l-tNtIdl nun
drcd in number form stars OF brilliant JETS.
winch produce one of the grandcst effects, with
the sun in It's centre that can be de>cr,bel--in
fact, description falls to protrly it. Over these
stars Of light and gaSs-worS is a ceiling OF plate
glass, sllyercd, surrounded by gil led leaves form
lng curnice to the whole (; the cornIcc Its ~
against one of the circular windows of the cell
ing, some forty-two feet from the floor and the
beautiful panels, lighted strongly, show them
selves much better than b day, there being
formed shadows uller the open work, giving
greater relief to the figures.
The chandelier of the hall of Representatives
is very similar to that of the Senate chamber.
except tat, instead of the thirteen stars, there
are tlir,een scrolls, 50 connected rs 10 make a
c)ntinuou, circle and these produce a lna eff
feet This chandelier is sXty-two feet above
the floor of the House and forms a centre To the
skylight und, ieati tn cupold. b th OF these
Chandeliers are 50 arranged tia, all the clrbonlc