New-York daily tribune., 1857-10-01
FAIR or TIE AMERICAN INSTITUTES
ffouIth Article.

lFOuIth Article.
BkYzoLE LIoHT.-Among the various materials sp-
Piled to the production of artificial light none has been
fourd more convenient in use, and producing more
aet able light to the eye than the vspor OF benzoe
iuternixed with atmospheric air. A patent was taken
out in England about the year 1886, by Mr. Beel OF
London, for forcing common air into reservoir con-
tainirg highly recti6ed coal naphtha tsenzoe), and
burning the vspor taken up by the current of air at
burner near the reservoir. It was aso found to be
powerful sovent Of resins wax fatty matters caout-
cbouc, gutta- -perchs, &C., serving as convenient
substitute for alcohol wnen this is very expensive 80
that more attention given to its preparation and
it was found thot it could be readily manufactured by
redistiDirg ard purifying the crude nsphtha obtained
from coal.tar at cost not exceeding ffsy-sN cents
per gallon. About seven or eight years since, Mr..
Paine Of Worcester, Mass, whose name was then
somewhat widely known 10 connection with the produc
ton of light from water directed his attention 10 this
subject srd patented apparatus for producing light
by passing air through mixture of benzole alcohol
ard water Other patents were soon after granted for
similar applications of benzole, aud machines were
constructed by different parties, each claiming either
superior advantages or exclusive right in the Of
beIzoe for this purpose. The machines OF Mr. Oliver
p. Drake, of Boston, were in operation in 1852 the
pa,ert being granted in the Spring of The succeeding
year. Abou. the time other parties, using
Paine's ard other patents, commenced the manufsc-
ture of machines upon large scale, and the demaod
for berzoe vas so increased that the price went up
from ore dollar, at which the article imported
from Glasgow had been supplied, till it was
not 10 be procured at al 20. At the
present time, however, by the manufacture being
introduced INTO this country, it is sold at 81 81 of su-
peor quality to the Scotch benzole, ard it is likely
to be furnished in consequence Of new works under
taking its Manufacture in different parts Of the nited
States, at prices much lower. For few years pas!
the machines have been most largely manufactured
by Messrs. Downs 4 Co. Of Seneca Falls, New-York.
These machines were exhibited at the Utica Me.
chanics Fair, January 1856, and obtained favorable
report, with recomme ndation for premium after
careful exan. alton Of their Illuminating power Bye
Comm ttee, Of which Prof A. X. Eaton, now Of this
city, was chairman. One Of the same machines we
observe at the Fair Of the American Institute. by
thiS apparatus the cost of light, equivalent to that
Of q six.fett gas.buIner was reported by the Com
mittee TO be, when bepzole cost 81 30 per gal
Ion, one cent and q half per hour, while the
cost Of coal gas, at the charge Of - 50 per
thousand feet, would be two cents and tenth.
The light reported to be Of greater intensity than
to the eye resembling, in its yellow color the light of
the sun more peifecty than any other artificial light
does. This was the case with Mr. brakes light,
which saw in Boston in 1853 and alec with an ex.
hibhon of another benzoe light, which we recently
witnessed in this city with Prof. Eaton. This was
one made under patents owned by Mr.. jesse Carpen-
ter, ard which, by the introduction Of recent im-
piovemert, appears to Obviate, to some extent the
piteipsl difficulty met with 10 the way Of
the general introduction Of the process for the
lighting OF buildings. THIS is the tendency of the
benzole vapcr TO condense to such degree By a mod
eiate oimnution Of temperature, that the quantity
taken up by given portion Of air is greatly lessened
and even the gaseous mixture is conducted through
cold tubes the condensation reduces the prOpor
ton OF carbon in the mixture, and gives flame Of
Uncertain degree If brlhancy. When, on the con-
ay the temperature lie too high the vspor is rsrded
and mixes freely with the air mpartirg " it so
much carbon as 10 render the fame smoky. BY the
improved arrangement, the supply Of be1zole vapor
Is sulated according to the temperature, more or
ss ben2ole being passed in from the reservoir by the
same elock.woik mschnery, which blows the current
Of air. The mixture is ai.o thoroughly effected
by the benzoIe being mDutely divided ~ it is m.de
10 pass through porous diaphragms. 1t is question:
however, We have never seen tetermOed between
shtt ranges Of temperature the light be dpei dsd
upon, ard whetber It can bs passed through cold
tubes TO any considerable cisiaIce from the reservoir
Without inpaifitg is brilIiancy No doaot thls DO
Pehds 'thehow upon he parity Of the osnsoe' SOD
Toe sppehm Mtie low prspares, and osed - It Is