San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-28

illuminating power, aud to discourage
the invention of economical burners,
IN order that the consumption might
reach maximum. The application Of
gas for heating purposes has not been
encouraged, and is still made difficult
In consequence of the Objectionable
practice OF reducing the pressure in
the mains during daytime to the low
est possible point consistent with pre-.
vention OF atmospheric indraught. The
introduction Of the electric light has
convened gas managers and Directors
that such policy is no longer tenable,
but must give way to one of technical
progress; new processes for the cheap.
ening the production and increasing
the purity and Illuminating power of
gas are being fully discussed before the
Gas Institute; and improved burners
rivaling the electric light in brilliancy
greet our eyes as we pass along our
principal thoroughfares.
Regarding the importance of the gas
supply as it exists at present, we find
from Government return that the
capital invested in gasworks in England,
other than those of local authorities,
amounts to 93O,OOO,OOO; in these 4, 2S1,.
O40 tons of coal are converted annually
producing 43,000,0OO,OOO cubic feet of
gas and about 100000 tons of coke;
whereas the total amount of coal an
nually converted in the United Kingdom
may be estimated at 100000 tons, and
the by-products therefrom at 100000
tons of tar, 100000 tons of ammonia
liquor, and 100000 tons of coke, ac-
cording to the returns kindly furnished
me by the managers of many of the
gas-works and corporations. To these
may be added, say, 100000 tons of sui
phur, which up to the present time is
a waste product. The total annual
value of the gas-works' by-products
may be estimated as follows: Coloring
matter, e3,350,000; sulphate of ammo
MIA, G1,947,000; pitch (325,0OO tons),
e265,O00; creosote (25,OOO,OOO gallons).
G20S,00O; crude carbolic acid 100000
gallons), 100000; gas coke, 100000
tons CATER allowing 100000 tons con-
sumption in working the retorts, at 12s.,
G2,400,O00; total 9S,37O,O00. Taking
the coal used 100000 tens, at 12s.,
equal ct, 100000, it follows that the by
products exceed in value the coal used
by very nearly 100000. In using
raw coal for heating purposes these
valuable products are not only absolute
ly lost to us, but is their stead we are
favored with those semi-gaseous by
produces in the atmosphere too we'll
known to the denizens of London and
other large towns as smoke. Prof.
Roberts has calculated that the SCOT in
the pail hanging over London on a
winters day amounts to fifty tons, and
that the carbonic oxide, a poisonous
compound, resulting from the imper-
feet combustion of coal, may be taken
at at least five times that amount. The
most effectual remedy would result from
a general recognition of the fact that
wherever smoke is produced fuel is
being consumed wastefully, and all our
calorific effects, from the largest down
to the domestic fire can be realized as
completely, and more economically,
without allowing any of the fuel en-
ployed to reach the atmosphere un-
burned. The most desirable result
may be effected by the use of gas for all
heating purposes with or without the
addition of coke or anthracite. The
cheapest form of gas is that obtained
the entire distillation of fuel
in such gas producers as are now large
ly used in working the furnaces of
glass, iron, and steel works; but gas of
this description would not be available
for the supply of towns, owing to its
bulk, about two-thirds of its volume
being nitrogen. The use of water-gas,
from the decomposition of
steam in passing through hot cham
Der filed with coke, has been suggested,
but this gas also is Objectionable, be-
cause it contains, besides hydrogen, the
ao;nor,ona and inndnrons nas carhnnic