The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-17
Providence Journal.

The method Of lighting Just introduced on
| the steamer NaJragansett, for the purpose oil
securing greater safety, has proved an entire
success. Hitherto The gas used for illumi-
mating purposes on steamboats, has been con-
tanned in huge India-rubber bags, which are
not only liable 10 be easily punctured, but
which de,eriora'e rapidly and give out sud-
denly unless carefully watched and ire
Quently repaired and renewed. BY the sys-
TEN now put to practical use in this conn
try for the first time. the gas is greatly
reduced In volume, and Is contained in
strong metallic cylinders. Although the
principle has been known in Europe for
several years, and j. in fact rapidly sup
plantIng all other means OF lighting railway
carriages there, wc are not aware that 1t
has ever been applied 10 boats. Admon-
ishfd by the former disaster 10 the Narra-
ganseif, President Blbcock, in rebuilding
her, has given a great Geal OF personal at
tention 10 the question Of protection from
peril by fire. Having been for year past
in examining this new method, with view
10 it's adoption on the cars Of The Ston1neiOn
railroad, it occurred 10 him that it might
be feasible 10 extend the range OF its use 10
Messenger steamers. tngiOCcrs were Let 10
work 10 adapt the Inventions 10 this new
purpose, and though the expense OF the eX-
pertinent has been greater than was aniicl-
patcd. aud there has been much veXatious
delay, the perfected result gives great sails
faction. Tue system is known a. the
Pntscb compre>sed-gos method. IL i main-
" combination Uf devices by Juiigs
Pintscb. the proprietor OF extensive ma
chimes hops in Berlin. Germany, who has
already realized falEe and fortune from this
invention. Our contribution to the depart
mcnt Ct Inyentio, 5. Discoveries, and I'M
provement," referred TO the process few
weeks ago, and briefly described il. II has
come into general use throughout Germany,
in some cases The authorities compelling the
railway companies to adopt 1t. IL is said
that there are already on the continent Of
Europe some seven thousand railway car
rlages lighted by this method. Recently
some Of the railway companies OF Eng
land. sOmeN bat discouraged bv the DIM
Guilty of obtaining tights OF sufficient iliu-
mInating power to satisfy passengers with
out The use Of Kerosene or other dan
gerOns lamps, united in Offering large
reward for the bet plan Of lighting
raiIway.cirriageS. An important COM
mission. with the learned and practical
DR.. Barth Ut its bend, was created TO exam
inc all known pian>. After months OF trial
Tue COiDIillsSlDu UIiut ~ WUS Ul ltD'IAs ut-
>cribing every plan in use, giving careful
figures rs 10 cost, and announcing that with
one exception none OF them could be COM
mcpded. The exception was the PintScn
cOmpresse d-gas system, now placed in the
NarrJgansett. In regard to this, the report
asserted not only that the inventor was
fully entitled 10 the large reward offered,
but that the inveution was perfect, and left
nothing more 10 be desired in the way Of
lighting cars. Since that time lis use has
been rapidly extending throughout Great
Britain. IL is the only system now used on
The underground railway in London, where
the trains are lighted night and day contin-
uOusly. L. is understood that one Of the
cars on the StOnlnglon railroad will be inn
mediately tt'ed 40 to try the power OF the
new light IN our high and large cars, and 10
test lis economy.
The new light has another field OF useful.
ness, TO which also our contributor re-
ferred-namely. as an Illuminating agent
for buOys aud other si9nals along the coast
and on nayleable rivers. II has been found
practicable 10 compress into receptacle
gds enough 10 continue ablaZe for four
months, the waves dashing over it
meanwhile. TIE English Government,
after protracted trials, has yielded TO
The request OF us principal naval att
thoritle>, ana has ordered quite a num-
Der of these buoys. The Russian and the
German Governments have also adopted
them, and the French. Italian, and Spanish
authorities have recently directed expert
mcnt. tu be made wit h them. The inventor
has been accorded substantial nonOrs in his
country, aud 1t would appear that an i'm
portant move has been made in the direction
OF applied science.