Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-12-12

& Watt. at Soho, near Birmingham, in
1898. Still it was not generally known
and indeed was looked upon as only an
experiment. But in 1902 on the occasion
of the Peace of Amiens, which put an
end to the ten years war of Europe
against France, the general joy OF the
British people was expressed IN variety
of WAYS. Mr.. Murdoch covered the en-
tire front of the Soho works with little
burners attached to small metallic tubes
or pipes, and almost in one moment, as II
bv magic, the flame rapidly ran, in jets,
all along the tubing, making an illumlna-
ton at once the most novel and brilliant
imapinable. The fact was ascertained,
but, as usual, people were slow to act
upon it. Moreover, people were alarmed
at the idea of explosions, and feared that
the new process, however brilliant, might
be manageable, if not dangerous.
In 1903 one of the London theatres was
gas lighted, for few nights, as an exper-
iment; and in 1912 the first gas making
company in London was duly chartered.
Gas was introduced into New York city
in 1928. 1t had been partially used in
Dublin five years earlier, but was not
used in the street lamps until 1925
The first gas-metcr was made in London
in 1920 Before it came into use gas was
paid for, not by the quantity consumed
which it was then impossible to ascertain
accurately, but Mt so much per hour Tor
each burner.
1t was ascertained that, in 1869, the
gas-pipes in and around London extended
upward of two thousand miles, and are
daily increasing. 1t was stated, at the
same time, that there is u leakage of nine
per. cent, through the faulty joints of the
pipes, in the gas supply of London.
To make coal gas is very easy. Most
school-boys, | suppose, know how to do
it, at few minutes notice. Here is the
process, which l tried hundred times or
more before l was ten years old:
Get little bit of bituminous coal-as
much as the size of u walnut will answer
Pound it small, almost into dust, with a
hammer or II cobble stone. Take an Or
binary tobacco pipe Zone with long stem
is preferably, and fill it with the pounded
coal, pressing it in pretty closely with
your thumb Should have said nearly
ill it. On the top press down some
tough clay, reduced to the consistency OF
putty by being tempered with a little WA
ter. Then put the pipe, filled with COAL
and closely covered with the tenacious
clay, and insert it carefully between the
bars of the CRATE, so that the clay on the
top of the bowl may not be disturbed. In
minute or two, the heat of the fire
evolves carbureted hydrogen gas from the
coal in the pipe.
If the empowering of clay is imperfect,
this volatile gas will find its way through
the clay, and burn very brightly for few
minutes; but if the covering be compact
and complete, the gas flows out of the
fire, and you can Immediately see and
smell it. The smell is that of escaped
gas-which is so unpleasant and unwholc-
some when perceived and swallowed in a
room-and the appearance is that of thick
smoke Then apply a lighted match to
this vapor, which, being intlammable, in
stantly is all adame-burning brightly
until I'LL the coal in the bowl of the pipe
has parted with its gas. When this is
done there is an end of the flame.
Take the pipe out of the fire, remove
the clay cover of the bowl, and the resid'
ium remaining there is coke!
Now, this is the distilation of gas from
coal, which lights our houses and streets
only at the gas-works the vapor is sub
mitted to processes which purify it, there
by producing clearer and brighter light
when burning.
What is left after making the gas has t
commercial value. Of these products
however, there is not space to say any
thing now and here.