Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-04
Ehe View Lls..l-sus....nte for Gas.


There seems to be a strong disposition
I on the part OF the Legislature to overhaul
| the mOnstrOUs system of fraud and impO-
sition to which the public are subjected
/ by the various gas mOuOpOlies that have
[ grown up under its protection. We trust
/ that the feeling will result in some prac-
! teal measure Of relief The sense Of op-
! preston produced by the burden is be-
1 coming so strong, and is exciting such a
/ very general expression Of indignation,
/ that it viii no longer be safe for the mem
/ bers of the Legislature 70 turn a deaf ear
( 10 IL. They will find that when they
again present themselves TO their con-
sutuents their course in reference TO
/ it viii exercise a material influence on
| their political prospects. The mOu0po-
4 lists VIII, Of course, strain every effort to
defeat the measures that will be intro
| duced to control their proceedings
/ Money viii be lavishly spent and politi-
cal influence be as freely exercised in
| their interest. They viii find out, how
ever, before long, that il would have
been better TO have listened TO the Just
complaints Of the consumers than to
have forced them into this conflict. A
| compromise might have protected them
from radical revision of the whole Sys-
Z
they Will have 10 trust to their means Of
corruption 60 defeat the measures that
are in contemplation. Their efforts in
this way, however, even if successful,
would net secure them in the possession
OF their ill-g0tten profits. Science Is en-
listing itself on the side of their oppo-
nents, and threatens more efiectual
remedy Tor their oppression than any
which the legislature can afford. IL is
now pretty certain that the new mague-
stun light will eventually supersede "a.
When il was first discovered the dear
ness of the substance from which il Is
/ produced seemed TO forbid any hope Of
! its general employment. at is now as
cerJaiuedi' says a scientific journal,
" that the ocean contains l60 600 cubic
miles OF magnesium-S quantity which
would cover the entire surface Of the
| globe, both sea and land, TO a thickness
/ OF more than eight feet. Three years
/ ago al the chemists who had obtained
magnesium had probably not obtained
an ounce among them. One year ago its
l price was more than 500 a pound.
I Now, owing 10 improvements recently
introduced, magnesium wire is sold st
/ six cents a foot" If these statements be
coFrect-and they are madeon apparently
satisfactory data-there is reason t0 be-
lieye that in another year or two the cost
of TIE light produced from magnesium
viii be very far below that of gas. As 20
I the superiority of the light itself there
can he no question. 1t is puTer and more
intense than that Of the flame of any ar
tificial light that has as yet been discov-
cred, does not alter the natural colors of
things, and can be regulated with the ut
most ease. BY the adaptation Of proper
mechanical cOntrivauces, some progress
toward which has already been made, il
can be rendered available for domestic
purposes without any risk of its affecting
the sight. Its adaptability for street fllu-
mination has been equally demonstrated.
Once, therefore, the economical question
solved 10 the satisfaction Of capitalists, we
would not give much for the stock Of the
companies that now mOnopolize the light
ing Of our cities.