The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-01-21
Letter from am Ola Friend.

years since l have written anything for
your columns, yet think some of the old
Journal readers will recognize, and proba-
bly, associate with pleasant memories, the
brief signature to this. For time, if you
will pardon the egotiSm, am a resident of
Indiana, and not without hope of some
gratifying transpirations of destiny y
which may eventually make my residence
here permanent. IF this be so, may the
same happy fortune make Evansville once
more my home. But, by a host of sweet
gushing memories, though some be enshrin-
ed intearS-by a thousand dear associations
by warm friendships which know have
yet their clasp and smile of welcome for me
by these things l feek that Evansville is even
now my "home," ard that it ever will be,
no matter where the bodily presence. Be-
meath the sod of her cemesary, indeed Evans
vile has hostage for my affections.
But from sentiment to sense. Having on
a recent visit to your place had great
many questions asked me relative to Water
Gas, and that being a subject of quite as
much interest to the public as to individu-
ais, it may not prove untimely to write a
few facts relative to the success of this new
discovery in Aurora. You have doubtless
been informed through other sources, that
for some time this city has been illuminated
with Water Gas. 1t has now had thorough
trial of nearly three weeks, during which
time the people have every night been sup
piled with gas equally brilliant, 10 say the
least of it, with the best coal-gas and having
many advantages over the latter. Its aver
age cost thus far is not much more than one
third of what the cost of cOal-gas would be
under similar circumstances-yet with addi-
tional experience, and improvements in the
works suggeated by this experience, the
cost is being materially lessened every week.
In large works, as the comparatively small
experiment here has already abundant
~ proven, this gas could be made at
fifty cents a thousand feet, if not less. AS
yet there are only about FIVE hundred con-
sumers here, consequently the price charged
for the gas is much higher, perhaps fully
double what it would be were the number
of consumers as many thousahds as hun
dreds. At 50 per thousand and the same
number Of consumers, coal-gas works conld
not Ire here, and no man of experience
would venture upon the abSurdityof erecting
them. The Water-Gas works cost One-third
less than the other. Those at Aurora can
be managed by one nun. The gas does not
require purifying. 1t is as brilliant burnt
just as it comes from the ret0rts as purified
coal-gas. These retorts are three in number
and very small. They frequently produce
1900 feet an hour and consequently work
but few hours each day to supply he con-
= IL lI-,
the cost of the gas would be much reduced.
This gas does not condense so much as
coal-gas. The demonstration of this fact
here is important, as it was said by the
enemies of the gaS-t oh, it burns we'll
enough in hotels and factories, but wait till
it is tried in town, where it must be ruu
through the streets and exposed to the cold
it will then be lcGter-gas, sure enough"
1t has for nearly three weeks of winter
weather been run through 1000 feet Of
street main pipe, aud there is no sign of
condensation yet. Neither does it make
the slightest deposit in the pipes or tubing.
But had not intended to write so much on
this subject and yet more is almost necessd-
ry to be said in justice to the subject. 1t
would afford those interested here great
pleasure to receive visits from gas men and
others, and submit these works to their ex-
animation.
Aurora itself is business like place, and
is or should be distinguished for its manu-
featuring. Atameetng held here last week
it was formally determined not to secede
yet awhile, and if necessary to help Uncle
Sam keep all his children straight. When
South Carolina understands the position of
Aurora, we about here are inclined to think
she will " draw in her horns" If her peo-
pie did not draw in quite so many " horns,'
they might perhaps act more sensibly.