Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-04
AMI GAS,

Electricity and gas are no longer re-
garded rs competitors. The time when
the appearance of tue electric light
caused a decline in gas stocks has pass
ed by. They now shine along side OF
each other without creating any disturb
ance in the stock market or causing any
t~repidation among the holders of gas
stock IS to the future of their property.
Boil electricity and gas have their
uses. They are both necessary and at
no dist mt day will be regarded as equal
~ indiS "ensible. Electricity may dis
place g. for some purposes, and it may
cause u reduction in the price Of gas,
bat that very reduction will only in
crease the uses to which gas will be APP
piled and the quantity consumed, 50
that the gross profits to gas companies
will not he reduced.
This has been the experience
in all places where electricity
hasbeen introduced. 1t will be the re-
suit in u own city. We are now quite
well assured of the benefit Of electric
light for our streets, through the COM
pany o forming, and when it is estab-
lished, it will be found to work a bene-
fit to the gas interest. The price of gas
may be reduced, rs it doubtless will and
should be, and then will follow the ap-
plication of gas to a thousand purposes
where it is not now used. The reduced
cCst will justify uses that make it now
impracticable, and even for domestic
purposes the consumption will belargely
increased, with the result, as We have
said, of increasing the profit to the gas
works.
These views are borne out by facts
cited from gas journals themselves.
From an editorial article from the
American Gas Light J0urS0l, we make
the following quotation:
The increase of light resulting from
the use of electric lights, wherever they
are in operation, makes an increased de-
mand for gas light in the neighborhood.
An establishment that had placed sew
eral electric lights in front Of their place
of businesssuppOsed they could dispense
with gas in their windows. A few
nights experience served to dispel this
delusion, for the effect was found to be
very similar TO that Of a full moon out
side of the building, which was very
beautiful and charming in itself, but did
MOI LnrN.n ~ 1isrlnN- 10 rood A1VanfauA
the beautiful materials spread out for
public inspection in the windows of the
establishment; and, consequently, while
the electric light Shedits etiulgence upon
the outer air the gas jets resumed their
sway within.
Upon this point we would call the at
tentiOn of our readers to some remarks
made by a distinguished French elec-
trician, in an address recently delivered,
at the Electric Exhibition in Paris, to
the French Association of Gas Engi-
neers, who held a special meeting in
Paris last September for the purpose of
witnessing this exhibition.
Among other distinguished electri-
clans who were invited to deliver adj
dresses and explain the progress of the
application of electricity to lighting was
MIR. Frank Geraldy, who gave a most
interesting paper upon the distribution
of electricity. After stating the advan-
tages of electricity, he asked the ques-
ton, "What will be the consequence
from the gas standpoint" and answered
the question as follows:
81 do not believe it will be detrimen-
tai. In fact, gas and electricity are not
destined to fill the same offices. Electric
city will doubtless take large spaces, and
perhaps limited spaces where an intense
light is wished; but, in nay opinion, it
cannot be substituted for gasin the great
part OF the service which gas renders
nor replace the small lights, either for
heating or lighting. 1t is evident that
where a powerful light is demanded
electricity may he preferred, but where
We require 4 medium light well-diitused
gas may be preferred"