The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-31

Gods richer blessings with as generous hand
Impartial, from his throne are borne adown
Even to the very lOneliest in the land.
! Look but beneath the cruel-seemlng frown
And learn Of latent love to understand
How every cloud dissolvcs beneath its crown
--se~.-
THE LIGHTING OF VIRGINIA CITY WITH GA
FROM WATER.
About two years ago an old gentle
man, resident of this city, named w. II.
tC. Mathews, brought TO successful Is.
sue an invention upon which he had
been labOring for years. All that was
lneedsul to make q colossal fortune was
the practical application Of the idea
(which he had elaborated. He was, like
had expended his resources in years ol
Ietudy. He had followed his guiding idea
for the better part Of an ordinary life
time.
One evening he called upon George w
Hopkins, the Secretary Of the yellow
Jacket Mining Company, and interested
that gentleman to the point OF enthusi
asm. Mr.. Mathews professed to be able
to produce oxy-hydrogen gas from sim
pie air and water, and actually did IT be.
fore the eyes of Mr.. Hopkins, who asked
| whether the thing could be done on a
sufficiently large scale to illuminate
cities.
| "Certain1y" said the inventor; Gas
long as we have air and water to work
| with, there is no limit to the quantity OF
| gas which we can produce"
"But," said Mr.. Hopkins, sit seems
! impossible that a brilliant fame like that
should come from water and air."
s'The simplest thing in the world, when
| you know the secret" replied MI.
| Mathews. "Air consists merely OF two
gases-oxygen and nitrogen-!n the pro-
portion of 20Sl parts Of the former to
rs 90 Of the latter; or, by weight, OF 2s,ol
oxygen and 1918 nitrogen. Water is a
compound Of oxygen and hydrogen in
the proportion of $50 Of the first to II. ]
of the latter. Now, all that is necessary
TO make highly infammable gas is to
drive off the nitrogen. My invention
does that, as you see for yourself, in that
| dame"
There was no doubt about the value of
| The discovery, for which scientists have
been laboring ip vain for years, Mr..
Hopkins u as satisfied, and he advanced
sufficient money to make practical
test, Gold Hill was lighted for TWO sue
eessiye nights. to the satisfaction OF
everybody concerned. This completely
established the practicablity of the In.
vention, and Mi, Hopkins went. heart
and soul into the enterprise. He had
machinery made in San Francisco at O
| cost OF over $1,000. This was set up al
the old gas works, at the lower part oil
| Union street, and work was begun.
After the machinery had been set up,
t was discovered that the engine was
not sufficiently powerful to work the
pumps, and operations were suspended
for time. Mr.. Hopkins had exhausted
lis capital. Unwilling to allow so yalu.
able discovery to lie idle, he exerted
himself to form q joint stock company
His efforts resulted in the formation, in
January last, of the "Compressed All
and Oxy,Hydrogen Gas Company"
| The company purchased land on Wash,
ipgton street, and finished building al
a cost of about $4,000, and early in May
! the machinery was moved in. But az
yet no new engine has been procured
and this was the 1lrst step necessary tC
| PRACTICAL operations. Consequently, IL
| the beginning OF June meeting Of the
incorporators was called. Six attended
and IL was resolved TO assess $lO0 upon
each incorporate interest,". Inc money
thus raised, together with the sale q
stock, would place the company Or
a sound financial basis, On the Both o.
June new board Of trustees was
| elected. A great demand tor stock i'm
nedIately arose, and several capitalists
4 of the city became much Interested. Tt
| give these gentlemen a practical demon
stration, George Ii. Winterburn, the sec
retary of the company, arranged witt
Mr., Mathews to have an exhibition O
Ihe works on Sunday morning last.
Everytbing worked to perfection, Thu
nnmns eburned vigorously. the escap,
valves sported with the OUTGOING ssDitro
aen,U and the pipes from the reseryoi
| 2urnished a bright flame. All departef
in daljght and eager toinyest. hui 1her,
was doubting Thomas among the dis
einJas to-wit. Secretary Winterburn
Evverythine seemed right. but somehov
na wasn't satisfied. lie had induce,
Ihese friends of his to see the experi
ment and il anything should turn on
wrong thew would naturally hold hin
morally Responsible. While he was non
derinr these facts sauntering down {
streef' Mr.. Mathews. with his face al
f sglow with a successful inyentors pride
aenosLed him and held forth deiiyhtedl,
on the assured success Of Inc entei
nrise.
ftsMr. Matbews.D said Mr.. Winter
, | I'm n. 81 have see1, your machinery worl
And can't DENY that it seems o success,
| 80 yo,, knn1v thot T am Inadino thns