New-York daily tribune., 1861-01-19
WATER GAS AT AURORA.

With some surprise we have heard from citizen Of
Aurora Indiana, that this city, TWENTY-FIVE miles from
Cincinnati has for the last two weeks been Illuminated
with gas, and this the muchalkedof Sanders Water
Cas- the discovery Of a former citizen Of Cincinnati.
As no public notice has before been made Of hs enter
prise and il is important only from the fact that
this is the fret town Ii hted with the socaed Water
Gas, but from its success promising almost revolu
tiOn in gas matters, we have endeavored 70 gather
some details ON the subject at least interesting gen.
erslities. ''
The efforts of the friends of this eas to introduce K
in the public gas works of Pbiladelphja and tie re-
sstance of the companies there whose interests arc
identified with the coal mines and the final lighting up
of the GiTard House wi success facts familiar TO
many newspaper readers. Mr. Add II. Sanders the
of the right in Indiana, desrous Of trying the
q in some town, induced Mr. julius SEVERN, an On
terprsiDg mechanic in Aurora, and somewhat ac-
quainted with gas works. TO investigate personally
this subject and the result was last Fall bis determ-
nation TO at the erection Of Water Gas
works in bis own town, the night OF the comfy being
sold 10 him at mere nominal snm. An individual en-
terprise and with but limited capital, Mr.. SEVERN
has had many difficulties to overcome, but H at Last
successful and with the prospect of being beraly re-
warded for bis enterprise. His gas works, capable OF
supplying the consumption of Aurora for many years
TO come have been in steady operation for two weeks,
produce pure brilliant and almost odorless gas 30
well pleased the citizens, that many who had neid
oil, fearing the final result, are now having hxtures
placed in their houses. At present. there are nearly
five hundred burners, supplied through seven thousand
feet of main pipe in the streets. This gas is not pu-
rfed" thus dispensing with heavy expense ana mucp
labor indispensable to the manufacture OF coal gas.
vet the gas is said be superior TO the ordinary coal
gas in brilliancy. Purified, i would, Of course De
much brighter 1t gives bright and beautiful light
when burnt just rs il from the retorts, even be-
fore passing through the swasher."
TIE works are similar 10 those for the making OF
coal gas excepting for the production OF gas, with
similar pipes fixtures, &c. The Aurora Works con-
tain but three small retorts, which are claimed 70 De
the full equivalent Of bench OF six by nne OF the
large coal gas retorts. In ADDITION, there ls steun
boiler; Also over the reorts, tank for the carDonz
ing material such rosn, crude OIL or other maternal
containing carbon. Water-gas works cost one-thrd
less than coal gas works Of the same capaolnes as
we are informed and can be managed by one-thrd Ine
number of men, In addition TO these facts, the expe-
ment at Aurora has demonstrated, we are INFORMED,
that the water gas can be made much cheaper IMAM
coal cas, il ia almost odorless, the works being no
ofense TO their immediate neighborhood; does not
condense 30 much coal gas; It does not eaVe oe-
poes of any kind in the pipes, by which they Or Their
meters n ay be affected.
These facts are certainly important enough 70
recommend the Sanders Water Gas TO the careful
examination of all persons, companies, and communi-
ties interested in gas The additional fact that the
Aurora Works promises to amply reward their builder
when the limited number OF consumers woold render
the erection of coagas works there an enterprise not
to be thought Of for moment as paying speculation,
il sucpesive OF the importance Of this discovery. We
are informed that though estimates will soon be made
of the cost of this gas day after day. that the point
of its economy will be made apparent. Although
Mr. SEVERN II still engaged in improving his works,
and EXPERIMENTING in different carbonizng materials,
we understand visitors are freely admitted 70 the
works and every facility offered them for the exsnn-
alton Of details relating to the process OF
water gas. Cincinnati Daily Commercial