The Portland daily press., 1886-10-18
WATER GAS An ESTABLISHED
SUCCESS.
Three Months Progress of the Maine
Water Gas Co.

The Maine Water Gas Company was CHAR
tered and commenced doing business July
9TH, 1886, and is consequently about three
months old. Within this remarkably short
space of time astonishing results have been
attained in the way of proving the original
claims of the projectors. The successful
lighting of Greenwood Garden Opera House
on Peaks Island and the Ottawa House office
and veranda has been described at length in
these columns. The art store of j. T. Stubs,
Esq, SOB Congress street, where the appar-
atus was originally displayed, has been con-
tinuously lighted since May last, and to say
that it is the most thoroughly lighted store
in Portland is not over estimating public
opinion, for thousands have so pronounced
it. So highly pleased was Mr.. Gibson, the
enterprising manager of the Ottawa House.
with its operation that measurements were
taken and plans arranged for piping the
entire house for this gas next season, ON the
very day of the lamentable destruction of
this famous hotel by fire. The same APP
paratus used at the Ottawa was transferred
to the restaurant Of Timmons & Halves
on Market Square during September,
not being large enough for the increased
number of lights desired fo- the hotel. The
brilliantly lighted offices of the company at
So Exelfang e street displays its adaptability
to office and residence purposes. During the
past month the manager has been in Phila-
delphia experimenting with apparatus for
heating and cooking purposes and also for
its adaptabilitv to use in gas engines, with
the most gratifying results. The expert hay
ing charge of the experiments with various
styles of heating and cooking stoves testifies
that every effect of coal gas in heat and radi
alton is accomplished with twenty per cent.
of this water gas; therefore much greater
effect than ever before can be obtained in
the way of heating with gas stoves, using
less than one-half the gas formerly required
An apparatus designed for testing on FIVE
horse power gas engine, ran a ffteen-horse
power, fully developed, most perfectly, with
no alterations whatever and required less
than sixty per cent. as much water gas as
necessary with coal gas. The experts opin-
ion is on file at the office of the company for
the inspection of all who wish to investigate
Several different styles of cooking and heat
ing apparatus are on the way and
will be exhibited at the company's
offices within very few days. The APP
paratus for lighting, heating and heat
ing soldering irons in the factory
where the machines are made is nearly COM
pleted. Full arrangements have been made
for testing the adaptability of this method
of lighting, to railway trains and the public
will be duly informed of the results. 1t
would seem that the most doubling skeptic
must thus be convinced that new era has
dawned for the consumers of gas, and many
who have never been able to avail themselves
of the advantages of a superior light on ac-
count of cost, or their remotness from gas
supply will now embrace the opportunity.
With this apparatus any premises may be
lighted, wherever situated. Over sixty ma
chimes have been already ordered for use in
Portland, which inSures certain income for
the city company as soon as the apparatus
can be manufactured and placed. Very few
companies can be formed with such Ger
tainty before them. All mechanical details
have now been perfected, and all former OBJ
stacles have been overcome. The Maine
company will build all apparatus used in the
State. The superior development of the
process by the Maine company is attested by
the fact that its machines have been ordered
for companies doing business in other
States and the Canadas. Two machines will
be shipped to Florida this week for the in
PRODUCTION of the process there.
The company is now ready to begin the
licensing of corporations to use this process
throughout the State, and are already in ne
gotiation for the sale OF nearly dozen of
these rights The company's deed for the
State right has been duly recorded at the
Patent Office in Washington. The patent is
peculiarly clear one, as DR.. B. F. Clark, the
examiner in that division of the Patent Of
fee testifes: 81 hereby certify that 1 have
examined and passed upon the above case,
and that the claims allowed have been sub
mitted to rigid examination and were
passed in view of the state of the art as dis
closed by such examin alton, no references
being found to anticipate the invention. The
patent granted will in my opinion be per-
| fectly valid" The most thorough examina-
| ton is solicited from all who are DESTROYS of
acquiring rights under the company's char
ter We claim that this is the cheapest and
best gas-making process of the century.
r. II. ROSE, Gen'l Manager.