Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-03-13
From the Baltimore Sun.
The French Wafer Gas

- ""0 u09CIloes IloFe particularly the invention
OF NJ Glllard. The party present, besides the
writer, were Mr.. Sanford, American Secretary of
Legations Mr. Sykes, Mr. B. Philips and Mr.. AL
fred Moss, of Philadelphia, Mr. Carey, of Cincin-
nattl, Mr.. Haskell, of New York, and others. A
mong all there was but one sentiment of surprise
ana admiration at the result, and it was believed
Dy them that the great question, whether gas man
utactured from, water can be used for purposes
OF light and heat, satisfactorily solved by Mr.
Gillard. Mr.. Fry writes =
In the environs of Paris is a manufctorv-
Entering the premises, we were first shown room
OF the size ofan ordinary drawing-room, in which
were suspended several burners. The only diff
erence IN the arrangement from the ordinary gas
burner was, that round each lamp flame was placed
platinum wick about an inch or so in diameter
Ihe flame itself was blue and dullish, but by the
insertion OF the platinum net work, (Which is round
and open at the top,) the platinum became splen-
didly luminous; and all the burners together cast
such light that the tnts of blue and green ON
paper, which are confounded ordinarily at night,
could be distinguished and the delicate shade of q
light straw color adequately Disseminated. Whe-
ther the plantinum is prepared in any special way
was not said; but the net work is exceedingly
light, and of course, inexpensive.
"Upon a shelf was stove about eighteen inch
eS high and five across, to which was attached
gas-Plpe. This stove could be carried about and
the small leather pipe connected with the main
pipe attached to it. The stove requires no Chin
ney' for the gas being free from smoke or color, it
1t can burn IN any room. In chimney place
there were number of Jets of gas, which gave
but strong heat, capable of being regulated by
simply turning them on or off, as required In an
adjoining room was gas-heater, where no flame
was perceptble, the heat being conducted from be-
meath. In the kitchen was the mctre-and there
IN a kitchen range or oven were placed the differ
ent untensils over gas flames, whose intensity
could be regulated by turning off or on the gas in
the required quantities. The gas-pipe of leather
was then applied to the hollow handle ofa gridron,
each bar of which perforated at equal distances
with holes of the size of pins point. BY turn
of the hand the gridiron presented magical ap-
pearence-it famed up with blue lights, and over
them were placed some mutton chops, which were
expeditiously cooked
"Whlle this was going on, water was being
heated by the gas, and the company was treated
to some hot punch. In Justice to the gridiron it
must be mentioned that can be turned on its side,
and thus presenting perpendicular front, it can
be used for roasting. A cook by this means could
place vertical gridiron on handsome centre Ia
bic, and with tin kitchen before it, with goose,
turkey, or pig therein, preside over her work
while reading novel or working at cruelS-for
the ordinary STOPPING, perspiring, fuss and litter
are done away with.
g In word, the most disagreeable household
details, which require dspised drudges to perform,
are obvated by this means Of course, there is
no getting in Of coal or wood-no dust or dirt Gre
ated thereby-no smell-no poisonous exhalation
All you have to do is to have pipe from the gas
mandatory in your cellar, with gas conductors as
at present, and your fuel, and oil, and candles are
laid in for year in and year out.
The inventor told me the expense of heating
drawing room was about a sous, one cent, day.
In regard to light, the expense was, he said, as
six to twenty-six in favor of the cheapness of the
water gas over the gas now in use
As to the means of the preparation of the gas
"a number of methods have been suggested by
chemistry, most of them from the decomposition of
all of them have been heretofore regar-
ded rather as class experiments more interesting
rs to the theory than capable of practical appli-
cation Mr. Gillard, by simple and cheap meth
cd, makes pure hydrogen. Steam is passed into an
lir-tight iron retort exactly like those in gas estab-
shments-th bottom of the retort covered with a.
layer of charcoal to the depth of an inch or so-the
-etort is heated to bright red, and carbOnc acid
md hydrogen are produced. The chemical action
5 simple-the oxygen ofthe water combining with
he charcoal, forming carabonic acid, and passing
With the hydrogen into a chamber containing
ime. Here the earbonc acid combines with the
lme, forming carbonate of lime, and the pure hy-
lrogen being liberated, passes Off The advanta-
res of the this manufacture over that of coal or
)il gas in point of method and expense are tooap-
parent to be dwelt upon
Patents have been obtained for all countries
If Eurupe, and the United States, and in Man
chester it is said the work has been successfully
In the course of month Philadel-
1hia gentleman, in this city, will return home
with the requisite authority from the pattentee to
introduce the manufacture of hydrogen for light,
,tc INTO the United States
negro preacher, says a correspondent of the
Boston Museum referring to the Judgment daV, In