Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-03-14
The Last Days of Gas.

electrical light eIperlmenters, and
the distrust and want of faith mani
tested by the public, is no new thing
in the history of the worlds innova-
tons. There is not an invention or
discovery which blesses mankind,
but has agonized its way against the
wind aud tide of public disapproba-
ton and ridicule. With the expert
ence of all past ages before them,
the majority of men are as prone as
ever they were TO question the an
nourcement of scientific research.
The mission of the true scientist is
not selfish one on the contrary, it
is broad and liberal, seeking neither
individual nor public nggrandize-
ment, but intent only on the great
problem of lettering the condition
of our race.
In reviewing the history of the
discovery Of carburetted hydrogen
gas, and its introduction as an IL
Illuminating agent, the alternate Sue
cesses and reverses experienced by lis
advocates, bear a striking similarity
to the difficulties which are besetting
the electrical light enterprise at the
present day. The use of gas as
means of light, was first suggested
by Mr.. Murdoch, of Redruth, Eng
land. AS early as 1892, this indie
fatigable experimenter lighted his
own dwelling by hydrogen gas, gen.
Grated by an apparatus of his own
construction. 1t was not until more
than ten years afterwards, however,
that any attempt was made to intro
duce it as an Illuminating agent in
any public way.
In 1903, Mr.. Winsor delivered a
sel..es of lectures on this subject, Of
the London Lyceum, illustrating the
possibilities of It's economical use,
by burning jet of gas. Mr.. Win
sor succeeded in founding the " Ma
tional Light and Heat Company, /"
and in January, 1909, with the view
of procuring the assistance of Parlia-
ment, the company, at great ex-
pense, lighted Pail Mall from st.
James to Cockspur streets. But the
enterprise maintained only sickly
existence for some years, owing,
principally 10 the extravagant rep
reservations and prediction of its
projectors. London capitalists were
told, that for every pound invested,
they would annually realize an inter-
est of two thousand fold. Parlia-
ment was soon after again appealed
to by a new corporation called the
London and West Minister Char
tered Gas-Light Company" but the
bill was defeated, principally through
the opposition of Mr.. Wilberforce,
who denounced the scheme, in the
House of Commons, as "one of the
greatest bubbles that had ever been
imposed on public credulity." The
application was renewed, however,
the next year, and was barely sue
cessful. The progress of the work
was slow and tedious. No less an
intelligent man than Sir Humphrey
Davy, is reported to have sneeringly
asked whether the gas company in
tended to use the dome of st. Paul's
church for gasometer. About the
year 1914, the use of gas began to
be general in all the large cities of
England, but it was fearfully high
priced. In 1915, the price of tolera-
BILE gas was So rs per one thousand
cubic feet. Westminster bridge was
lighted by gas i'll 1913. The Hay
market Theater, however, was not
lighted with gas till 1853, for the
reason that the proprietor, in the
early days of the new illuminating
method, was SO prejudiced as to bind
his lesees to adhere to the old oil
system. But we have said
enough to show that there is wisdom
and often profit in extending all
reasonable charity towards new and
struggling enterprises.
The Coos Bay and Roseburg Wag-'l
on Road Company has just filed ar
ticles of incorporation, with capital |
c1Sn Onn