The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-07-26
Gas Light-Its History-PetroIeum in
Tennessee.

Tennessee.
Since the beginning of this century
gas light has been brought into general
use in our cities and towns. That
which is in most general use is produced
from coal placed in retorts, and by a
process of heat, the gas is generated.
Gas is also produced from petroleum.
In refining and preparing the crude oil
for use, it is placed in stills, and by APP
plication of heat, a vapor arises, which,
being condensed, produces the different
ight-burning fluids called naptha,
gasoline, nigoline, and other kinds.
The light of gas produced from coal is
very similar to that produced from
petroleum, and its many products, but
is far more expensive.
Scientific men were convinced of the
practicability of gas-hghting cities long
before it was actually brought into use.
The distinguished Dr. Chalmers had
lectured upon its practical use, and in
building his residence, in the city of
Edinburgh, had pipes placed in his
house for the purpose of burning gas
when the city should be lighted with
it; and by his influence, he ultimately
induced the city authorities to adopt it,
though the opposition to it was very
great, as it usually is to all advances in
science.
LIN most cities in this country gas is
controlled by monopoly. Consequent
ly the citizens are charged three times
as much for it as the cost of its manu-
facture, while the poor are denied one
of the greatest of blessings-light
This monopoly has called into active
energy the inventive genius of our day,
and the era of cheaper light is dawning.
Since the discovery of petroleum and
its various products. various machines
for manufacturing gas from it have
been invented and patented, some for
making gas out of naptha, from gaso-
line, parafne, rosin, and other fatty
substances. The object has been to
simplify its production and reduce the
cost of light. Some thirty or more of
these different gas machines were pa
tented in 1868, and many more since.
Of these many have proven failures, but
they have all been the means of leading
to greater perfection.
The most simple gas machine that we
have seen, is that patented by ID. f.
Scheaf, and now owned by J. III.
Needles az Co. of Nashville, and 10y
them greatly Improved. This machine
produces gas from gasoline. 1t is com.
posed of a gas-holder or gasomete1
upon the same principle of the coal
gas-holder, which can be of any size
desired. A gasoline holder or drum,
in which the gasoline is placed in any
quantity, from 20 to so gallons, is
placed some distance from the gas
holder and connected by pipe. An
air pump with a pipe is connected with
the gasoline holder, and by use of this
pump the air is forced over and through
the S5-gravity gasoline in the gas
holder and converts it into gas, which
passes through the pipe into the gas
holder, when 1T is ready for burning,
and passes out through pipe into the
burners at any distance, making q
beautiful light. This machine has been
in practical use for over four years, and
from communications we have seen In
regard to it We are convinced of its
great success and practicability. The
gas made by this machine is very cheap
costing less than one dollar per thou.
sand feet. 1t requires no skill to manu-.
facture 1T, and We are convinced the
danger is no greater from this machine
than from coal gas, as it is in effect the
very same. By this m achinegaslight
is brought within the reach of the in.
habitants of villages and the country,
as well as large cities-their price ran.
ges from $50 to $500 according to size
Enr .,sual
machine will cost from $50 to $3.50
Gas in cities, made from coal, costs
from $500 to $500 per thousand feet
while gas made by this machine costs
less than S1.00 per thousand, and gives
equally as brilliant light. We are
satisfied these machines will work q
revolution in the manufacture of gas,
lights and probably break down mono
poles i'll gas now existing. They will
certainly tend to lessen the expense OF
living in our cities, as even cooking cal
be done, in gas stoves, with gas at 81 .0t
per Thousand feet, for much less than
with wood at its present price. This
machine is in practical use in our city
and is said to be giving entire satisfac
ton. TIL time is not far distant, We
apprehend, when petroleum will be
found, in very large quantities, in oul
own State. The completion of the
railroad from Sparta through Overton
will doubtless develop an oil region
equal to that of Pennsylvania. On
Obid river and its tributaries oil has
already been found, in quantities, 10y
boring from so to 100 feet deep, bui
owing to the difficulties of transporta
ton, the wells were abandoned; but
the time is not far off when the counties
on that river will be alive with an enter
prising population, and petroleum viii
become one of the greatest sources Of
wealth to the people of Tennessee.