Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-07-19
THE YoRKvILLE GAS WORKS.

Messrs WArERHousE g. BowEs, the contrac-
tors, are making fine progress in their efforts to
give our citizens "more light" The main pipe
is all laid, and the small pipes have been intro
duced into many of our dwellings, stores and
shops. The workmen are busily engaged on the
retort house and gasometer, and it is confidently
expected that the whole work will be completed
by the 10th of August.
As everything in regard to this matter is of
interest to our towns people at this time, we
have been furnished with the following article
which originally appeared in the stauuton (Va.)
Spectator, which we copy, with the Introductory
remarks of that paper. The article explains
itself:
Rosin and Coal Gas.-The following letter is
on subject of much interest to many citizens of
Staunton. The writer Mr.. C. W. Newton, is
President of the Norfolk Gas Company, and the
letter was called forth by inquiries made of
Tazewell Taylor, Esq, by DR.. F. T. Striblng
1t must put to rest all complaints in this place
about the price of rosin gas. The people of
Norfolk have tried both rosin and coal gas, and
Mr. Newton says that, to the consumer there IS
no difference between rosn gas at ST and coal
gas at S4-the price charged in Norfolk, Win
chester Charlottesville, &C. For reasons not
affecting the consumer, the Norfolk Company
changed their works from rosin to coal We
may add that the Staunton Company decided in
favor of rosin works for the same reasons, in
part, that Influenced the Norfolk Company, but
we have every assurance that our works will
continue to operate well.
The Gas Company of Norfolk lighted the city
at first with rosin gas The selection OF this
gas was owing to the smaller outlay required for
the machinery necessary for its production, and
to the superior brliancy claimed for the light
over coal gas. The result of many experiments
made by scientific men ut the north, upon the re
lativc values of this and other gases, coincded
in establishing its greater purity and briliancy
over coal gas Without having these expert
ments now before me. and speaking from recol-
lection only, the rosin was said to be nearly lO0
per cent, denser than ordinary coal gas; and as
the illuminating power is in direct proportion to
the density one cubic foot Of rosin was stated to
give rs much light as two Of the other gas. The
price per 1000 cubic feet at the north for rosln
gas was generally 81, and we were regulated in
this by other towns which used this gas. We
used the "Coston' patent for its manufacture,
which was successfully working at the time IN
Springfield aud Trenton, and would, perhaps,
have continued it but for difficulties which dis
played themselves about year after we went
into operation, in the clogging or choking of the
Retorts by residium from the combustion OF
the rosin in them. This required the frequent
restoration of the Retorts, and besides being ex
pensive, rendered the supply of gas uncertain
and variable. This, however, was disadvan
tage to the Company and not to tie consumer; J;
for while the price was fixed, its cost in making
was increased by this difficulty. Ihane no doubt
that Il reference to the bills Of consumers rN show
that good rosin gas al 81 per thousand cubic feet
is about equql TO coal gas at ST. which we have
been charging since the conversion Of our works
Nv own experience as consumer of both gases
enables me to come to this conclusion.
have thrown together these few remarks
about the gases and hope they may meet the
points you mentioned to me.
Yours truly, c. W. NEWTON.
To Tazewell Taylor, Esq.