Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-11-24
TUESDAY,, NOV. 20, 1866.
BenxoIe Gas-What is u?-Can IL be made Practl
nj

PuDilc ana private buildings, as coal could not
be obtained in any sufficient quantities 10 sup
ply our city at other than a rate SO high as al
most to preclude its use among us. This ques-
tion can now be satisfactorily answered. Un-
doubtedly Benzole will be the substitute, but
many will ask" "what is Benzole ?-where
obtained ?-at what cost? and how used for
the manufacture of Gas 2" We will endeavor
to answer these questions.
Benzole is colorless, spirituous liquid, dis.
titled from coal tar, Of faint but pleasant
smell, like that Of burnt almonds. extremely
volatile and inhammable, but not erplosive. Pure
Benzole Gas contains, chemically, six parts of
hydrogen and two parts of carbon, and produ-
ces smoky fame, while alcohol contains six
parts of hydrogen and two parts Of carbon, aud
produces a blue fame; hut when the two are
mixed in proper proportions, with the same
quantity Of water as there is OF alcohol, dense,
luminous and smokeless fame is produced
more resembling the rays Of the sun than 9th.
er artificial light. One of the objects in mix
ing water with the Benzole and Alcohol is, to
produce complete moistening Of the vapor-
izing current, and at the same time to prevent
a loss of normal temperature in the Benzoe
The Gas obtained from this mixture consists Of
air completely saturated with aqueous vapor,
holding IN diluted solution the carbon and other
infanmable matter of Benzole and alcohol so
as to make it equivalent to coal Gas. Now to
convert the mixture above described into prac.
teal use, and make it subserve the purpose Of
illumination, the following machine is necessa-
ry. sJ5i7 13G"f2 aA -'@
The machine is Of cylindrical form, and one
sufficiently large to supply Gas for a common
dwelling, will occupy an ordinary lamp stand,
and is propelled by weight, similar to that Of
clock. When wound up and charged, it is
in readiness at all times to furnish Gas, by
turning stop. The pipes may be arranged 10
carry the Gas all over the building, as may
suit the convenience Of the purchaser. aa
Benzole now in use is imported fom Scot.
land at a cost in New York of one dollar and
twelve cents per gallcn. Several manuiacto.
ries for making the article are about to be star.
ted, and Benzole can be manufactured in this
country at so cents per gallon, and yield to
those interested in its production large profit.
AS to the economy Of light, we will state that
the estimated cost Of burning the Gas, is ONE
cent per hour for each burner in use. To be a
little more explicit, Benzole is now worth 81, ,l2
per gallon, to which add one pint of alcohol
Is cents, total 81 81, and add as much water
as alcohol, and you will have mixture that
will produce as much light as will thousand
cubic feet Of coal Gas, both being measured
by phomo;neter, coal Gas costing on an aver
age, in twenty-nine of our principal cities,
So n per thousand feet. To make the mat
ter still palmer, We have only lotalse the lights
formerly used in the Drug Store of Wren &
Croft. There, seven lamps were deemed nee
essary TO give sufficient light for business pur-
poses. These lights cost the firm 81 81 per
night, beside the trouble of trimming them.-
The Benzole Gas will light seven burners, and
keep them burning five hours. from 6 to 10 o.
clock, for ronrY-rIvE CENTS Ia saving in
favor Of the Gas. Of 81 121-2 cents. 1t costs
as much for oil and camphene for one hour as
the whole Of the Gas lights cost for foe hours
When our attention was first called to the
Benzole light, we had no faith in 1t, but after
careful investigation and thorough trial, we
give j, as our opinion that it is the best and
cheapest light (aside from coal Gas,) now ex-
tant. The flame burns clear and beautifully,
but little trouble is attendan, upon its regulation,
and the cost is much less than either oil, can.
dies or camphene. We learn that Mr.. Croft,
Of the firm Of Wren 8, Croft. has purchased a
third Of the right for the Territory, and half of
the righ, for the city. Messrs. w. g. G. have
a machine. Of thirteen burners now in opera.
ton in their store, where those WHO wish to
see it and learn further Of its merits, can do
so by calling upon them. We have been so
impressed with its superiority overihe old man
ner Of lighting. that We shall order machine
for our Office immediately p9q afIp g aao4r
no lf'tA .rAtfikai1H