Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-08-14
Monday Morning, August IA, 1882.
ELECTRICITY VERSUS GAS.

ELECTRICITY VERSUS GAS.
When the electric light first came into pub
lie notice the prediction was freely made that
it could never be used for the general pur-
poses of interior lighting as gas ia. 1t is but
short time since this prediction seemed
plausible, and yet it is now pretty generally
conceded that the question is reduced down
to one of cost simply. It Row appears that
the gas companies have the advantage in the
practical discussion of the question, but it is
unsafe to say how long they can hold it.
Everybcdy who is interested in gas prop
erty is of course interested in this question,
for the invasion by tho electric light of the
field which has been occupied by gas is an
attack upon the value of gas stocks One of
the most clear and accurate presentations of
both sides of the matter that have been
made is that which appears in the current
Popular Science Monthly. The author is G.
NJ. Lungren, and in making his comparisons
he the figures contained in the reports
of the London gas companies, and those
which represent the known or estimated cost
of the Edison system of electric lighting. He
finds that the total cost per 1000 of gas is
II cents and of electricity 20 cents. And
while very much remains to be done in the
improvement of coal gas manufacture, he
| does not think it probable that the improve
| ment will affect its cost of production to the
same extent as future improvements of
electric apparatus may be expected to de-
crease that of the electric light He
| says: "How far coal gas can 20 in
a reduction of the cost of produo-
| ton it is difficult to say but I
| think the lower limit may safely be taken as
l the point at which the sale of residuals pays
| for the COAL Both of these items-cost of
coal and prices of residuals-are practically
beyond the control of a gas company. The
| coal is already purchased in the open market
at the lowest figures at which it can be OBJ
| tanned, and the market for residuals depends
| chiefly upon the development of chemical in
| dustries, which can hardly be fastened by
the action of gas company. This market is
asteadily growing enc, and it is not impossible
that the residuals will in time pay for the
coal, though it is hardly probable The items
| of labor and distribution can not probably
undergo any considerable reduction. The
limit, then, below which it does not appear
that there is any probability of coal gas fall
ing in this country is 46 cents per 1, 900,
| which is figure that may be reached by
electricity without assuming anything less
probable than the above superstition respect
| ing gas. 1t Is only necessary to get ten lamps
per horse power, and produce the Latter
| with three pounds of coal an hour, to bring
the cost down to AZ cents, exclusive of the
lamps"
1 e q will &bo all
light, Mr.. Lungren points out, what is known
as water gas-gas produced by the decompo-
sition of steam in the presence of coal or oil
appears to be the most formidable. The
producing portion of the plant for this
gas costs but little more than half that TO,
coal gas, while the labor is about third and
depreciation but slightly more than this. A
sixteen candle gas will require three gallons
of oil per 1000 feet, and be made with
Oil at cents gallon and coal at 81. so ton
at an expenditure of % cents per 900 fee,
| for materials. The total cost will not exceed
| GO cents.
One important advantage which the electric
light companies will have over the gas COM
panies is that their plant can be run for pow
er as we'll as for light. The present indica
tions are, says Mr.. Lungren, that it is chiefly
through the use of improved burners that gas
must endeavor to resist the assaults of the
incandescent light. Already it has been shown
that in the matter of burners there is a wild.
field for invention, and that the results nov
usually obtained are much under what ar,
possible. With the high power burners O.
Siemens, the illumination obtained from six
teen candle gas has been more than doubled
and in others it has been carried up to from
five to five and half candles per foot. How
suitable burners yielding such great in
crease of light will be for the general pur
poses of Lighting and whether they will
advantage displace tho sinple fat tip, re
| mains to be SEEN