The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1860-02-09
For the Transcript.

For tho Transcript.
Mr.. Error :-Tlaving some leisure
time propose to devote it in jo''ing
down some Of ny experiments upon Ar
ti6cial Illumination. And as preface
let us enquire into the History Of the
snaject. Artidcth light, or rather =
hnouicIgc Of the means Of producing it
has existed 10 doubt since tho earliest
ages, but the means employed ~ tie
iDkira ancients and TIM savagcs, consist
Of the NEST primitive kind, such rs the
burning Of splinters aud twigs Of wood
Torches came in as an improvement up
u these. Aud lamps however rude a
great advance towards perfection il the
art Of rendering brilliant and cheerful
dark and dismal night.
The ancients with all thciryeG ncmcnts
(I mean the more m,dern WORTHLESS OF
that class Of people tai,cd I" 80 much
farther in their Improvement vi the
lamp except its shape L. always con,
ss.ing of an open dish can;aining oil 81
some :ial and lighted wick immersed
therein, This kind If lamps has adj.
vanta.es. nne Of which is its simplicit,
and its disadvantages the chief Ut which
consists in its not burning all Of ,h.
smukc and Gas arising from the co,nhus
ton Of the OIL which is at the same time
unhealthy and offensive Candles Sc. NJ
not to have been generally known to the
anclcn's. Ia the twelfth century chan
dcl.e,s and candles Of wax were in gen
era use over europe aud by reason Of
their no, emitting 80 much smokeas the
lamp had almost vanished tho latter ar
ticle oi house hold furniture from socie
~. When Argand il 1880 by throwinu
i current ct air into the center OF the
fame of lamp and by tie means Of a
glass cylinder called chimney over the
flame brought il 50 near to pertrction
that Mr.. Candle in turn deprecated in
value in that, with the advantage Of
being cheapest, they failed 10 give the
requisite amount Of light
Since the above mentioned impro
ments Of Arsand many alterations have
been made in the form and convenience
Of the lamp. The latest Of which, and
the one Of which wish more particular
~ to speak, is kind Of lamp for barn
Ill. mineral ell. Cor Kerosene as it is
called) The following arc the results
Of the comparison bs:ween lamp Of
this kiad ard candles. dnd tina, three
| candles, such rs are usually sold in the
shops fer ten cents Tor six to the pound
| at twenty cents per pound.) will burn
| continuously for twenty four hours. The
cost Of Kerosene oil for burning tho
/ same length Of time is six and three
| afihs cen:s one gallon CT oil will burn
by calculation one hundred and tlir.,
six evenings Of four hours each, Il. eos,
OF ono dollar and fifty cents. While 1,
burn candles tho same length Of time
will cost two dollars twenty seven and 4
half cents, difference in favor Of the OF
seventy seven and one half cents Ase
the Intensity Of light calling tina. given
| by candle (well snuHei aud bnrnin.)
unity the light given by the oil buroin.
| is three ani far ifih. greater; ar tn,
intensity Of the light "f tho candle j.
I" the intensity Of tho light Of the bur"
IN: oil IS l3 4 5 So then in tho kern
enc la. p VIC have the best and latest
mode Of producing artificial ilumina
being BY far the cheapest Of that cheap
est If all before it. the can lie; and fur
ther while it gives more light, ard i.
| cheaper than burnin. fluid or camphcne
| il has not like it the property Of ex
plnd;ny. In short it is ahead Of every
| thing in the line Of artificial illumina
ton, except gass.
CHARLES W. IRISH.