Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-10-14
Gas Establishment in Reading.

that place: A
We went, day or two ago, to see and
examine the miniature gas establishment
erected by our townman, Mr.. Daniel Mil
ler, on the premises occupied by him on
the rear end of Mr.. Arnold's lot, in Penn
street. The apparatus is nearly perfec-
ted, and is now supplying gas of an ex-
cellent quality as readily as the most ex-
tensive and costly establishments in use.
Mr.. Miller is well known here as an ingen-
ious mechanic, and among the foremost
in his profession as plumber and gas
filter. His object in constructing these
works is to make experiments as to the
best and most economical means of OBJ
tanning gas, with the view of adding to
his actual business that of supplying it to
those who may favor him with their or
ders. His success has equalled his ex-
pectations, and he is Of opionion that gas
can be furnished at less than halfthe cost
at which it is usually supplied. The idea
of obtaining gas by apparatus construc-
ted on the premises to be supplied is not
new one. In the infancy of gas light
ing Sir Walter Scott supplied himself
with gas apparatus for the lighting of
Abbotsford, and since that time the
plan has been extensively used in Europe
for lighting large establishments out Of
the reach of companies formed to furnish
light for general use. Few operations are
of greater simplicity than that of produc-
ing gas. 1t will crafty those who may
have heretofore regarded it as mystery,
to look in upon Mr. Miller, and behold
him employing initabout the same amount
of cunning as the cook exerts in furnish
ing us with our daily cup of coffee. Com
pared with it the operation of distilling is
a complicated affair. A furnace and
three cast iron retotrS walled into space
of three by five feet, and about six feet
in length, posses but little of mystery be-
yond that of the tea-kettle found on every
hearth. The retorts are supplied with
the necessary ingredients, oil, water and
rosin, and are heated to red heat with
Anthracite coal, when the gas begins to
pass by tubes prepared for it through a
cooler and refner into the gasometer,
and is ready for use. The cooler is a
cast iron alright vessel partially filed
with water, and the refner is a similar
vessel containing lime water to divest the
gas of its impurities and render it fit for
consumption.
The gasometer in this establishment con-
tains, when filed, about 1900 feet of gas.
The retorts are semi-cylindrical in form,
and of the dimensions of three feet in
length by eight inches in diameter, con-
nected by common educting pipe
through which the gas passes from them
to the cooler. Mr.. Miller has laid pipes
from his gasometer, on the surface of the
ground, to the Journal Office. where his
gas may be seen burning side by side
with that furnished by our own complete
but rather costly gas works. tits consid-
cred better by about one third than gas
produced from coal The reduction of
the price of gas should be viewed with
favor by all, and the man who effects it
should be regarded as public benefae-
tor. Light is everywhere necessary of
life. 1t constitutes large item in the sum
of human things. The demand for it is
as universal as the demand for bread
1t was to be hoped and expected that ere
this gas,light would be supplied at rates
to bring it within the reach of the poor
man. The materials for its production
are everywhere abudant, and it would
seem as if the only obstacle to its cheap
supply were to be found in the profits de-
manded by those who have engaged in
the business of manufacturing it. Mr..
Miller's performances will serve to make
to our people the extreme simpli-
city of the process by which it is obtained
and its cheapness also, unless we are de-
ceived. The main expense of gas works
is that laying pipes, which is avoided by
bringing the apparatus for making gas
into ones own premises. The yeomanry
of England are supplied with beer from
domestic breweries, by means of which
the guide wife provides wholesome and
agreeable beverage by an operation far
more complicated than that of gass max
ing. The expenditure of a small addi-
tional sum in the erection of house will
furnish gas apparatus adequate to the
supply of perpetual light, and we see no
reason why the kitchen fire should not be
made available in its production. We are
glad to witness the enterprise of such men
as Mr.. Miller, who, while laboring homo
rably for the advancement of their own
interests, are essentially engaged in the
of the commonwealth.
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