Morning journal and courier., 1881-05-23
Automatic Lamps.

Part of Central Park illuminated by
 Lights of Novel Desfgu-A Mixture
 of Petroleum and Naphtha versus Coal
 Gas.
 [From the New York Eerald.l
 That part of Central Park which lies be- tween the Fifth avenue entrance and the top of the Mall has just been lighted by an auto matic lamp, which presents some novel features There are altogether about seventy of these new illuminatorS placed on either side of the roadway, at distances of eighty five feet apart. They are mounted at the usual elevation above the ground. Each lamp is independent of the other and takes it's own illuminating power from fluid of gravity 76, which is contained in a reservoir attached to the lamp and holding about six quarts The reservoir Is so arranged that part of its pol ished exterior acts as 8 reflector, spreading the rays of light over considerable area of space The flame is equal to about fifteen candle pow er, while that of the common coal gas lamps is about nine. This, of course, gives the relative proportion of power be- tween the two lamps as being in the direct ratio of nine to fifteen in favor of the new ene Another advantage is that the light in the automatic lamp is perfectly steady, soft and white in color. while in the common street lamp it is fickering, dull and reddish.
 The new lamp is lighted by means of 8 double perforated bottom, and the flame it. self is divided into nine jets. During the daytime the lamp is not ext1ngulshed, but the light is merely turned down so low that passers by cannot see 1t. Such Is the con- structi 7n of the burner and the method of protecting it that no wind can extinguish the light Tn amount of fluid consumed dur ing the day is so insignificant that it would not amount to half 8 cent per lamp in fort night. The lamps are oval in shape and furnished with @ handsome opal colored dome, which latter also assists in softening and distributing the light. The method of supplying the tank is by means of wagon driven from lamp to lamp. This wagon has a carrying capacity for about 150 gallons of burning fluid. From it the fluid is pumped up to the lamp reservoir. The light is turned up or down in night or day by men who are mounted on horseback. The rapidi- ty and dexterity with which this operation is done deserves praise. The reporter saw it the other evening on that portion of the drive which is between the Fifth avenue en- trance of the Park and the Mall. The lamp lighter kept his horse at brisk gallop be- tween each lamppost. The quadruped seemed to understand his business, for upon approaching post he would stop suddenly, as though he had been brought on his haur ch- es by the sudden check of a Spanish bit, the man gave rapid turn to 8 small lever handle and his work was done. So rapid was the operation that 1t took coupe Gin which the reporter was) at smart trot to keep up with 
 globes are taken on a fast wagon to the posts and clean ones put up on the spot, while the dirty are carried away to be cleaned at the depot.
 The cost of Illuminating given area is 6 little more than one-third that of coal gas, while the superiority of the automatic lamp is in the ratio already named. The new light has been used for more than twelve months at Prospect Park, Brooklyn, and the town of New Bedford was illuminated by it last year. The lowest reported bid lately offered for lighting the Twenty third and Twenty fourth wards of this city was $29 a year per lamp, and it is claimed that the new light, which is brighter than the old, can be furnished for 1 $20 The nightly cost of burning fluid is including the labor of lighting, two and three-quarter cents. It is claimed by some that the leakage from the gas pipes destroys vegetation in the Park, and that the use of 1 the automatic lamp will obviate this The l fluid itself is 8 compound of petroleum and naptha, and may be looked upon as being non on-explosive. The use of the new lamp l commenced in Central Park on the l4th,