Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-05-17
OPPOSED TO INNOVATIONS.
People who Preferred Whale Oil to
Gns-They have their Parallel i'm
People who Prefer Petroleum to
ElaefrlciIY
Scientific American.


Scientific American.
Those who by reason of constitution,
habit, or i'll humor are constantly
opposing progressive Ideas and inven-
tioas might learn profitable lesson, il
they would glance for moment at the
history of almost any of our important
improvements, and study, through the
perspective of several decades, the un-
graceful position of those who ths9
maintained similar attitude toward the
advanced proiectso Of their times.
In the presence OF electricity, we may
find the uncertain gas flame and the
harmful products OF combustion COM
paratively objectionable, hut for upward
OF half century we have considered its
illumination great advantage, alter the
more primitive methods OF lamp and
candle. When first introduced, however,
our ancestors can scarcely be called
enthusiastic about the fluid, If theM fol-
lowing carious document represents at
all correctly the popular sentiment on
| the subject. The list of names append
ed to the petition includes men who
were at that time prominent anon e
| those most noted for their intelligence.
Philadelphia, Moves, ls33-Remona-
trance Against Lighting with Gas-To
the Honorable the Select and Common
Council of the City of Philadelphia:
Gentlemen: The subscribers beg leave
respectfully to demonstrate against the
plan now in agitation for lighting the
city with gas, as they consider it most
inexpedient, offensive and dangerous
mode of lighting. la saying this they
are fully sustained by the accounts of
explosions, loss of life, and great de-
struction of property, where this mode
of lighting has been adopted.
4 We consider gas to be an article as
equitable as gun powder, and nearly as
fatal in it's effects: as regards the i'm.
| Iieve the vast number of fires in New
York and other cities, may be in q
great measure ascribed to this mode oil
lighting; the leakage of the pipes and
careleseness of stopping off the gas
furnish almost daily instances of Its
destructive effects. When We consider
that this powerful and destructive agent
must necessarily be often left to the
care of youth, domestic and careless
people, we only wonder that the con-
sequences have not been more appalling
1t is also an uncertain light, sometimes
suddenly disappearing snd leaving the
streets and houses in total darkness.
i The waters Of the Delaware aid
Schuykill, now considered the most pure
and salubrious in the world, as many
long voyages have iully tested, mus
soon, we fear, experience the deterior
alton which has reduced the waters o
the Thames to the present impure and
unhealthy state, for no reservoir will bt
able to contain the immense fetid drains
! from such an establishment, and very
lsoon the river must be their receptacle
to& the destruction of the immense
shoals of shad, herring, and other fsf
with which they abound; the same caus,
must produce like effects. Salmon
smelts and other fish, formerly caught il
vast quantities in the Thames hav
nearly all disappeared. The constan
digging up of the streets, the circum
stance of the gas pipes which at th
intersection of each square must come
, in contact with the water pipes, ar
difficulties and evils which We woult
S anxlousiy avoid.
In conclusion we earnestly solicit tina
; the lighting of our city with oil may b.
continued. And your petitioners, etc
Il p. Syng Physick, tjohn 3. Warner
John Sergeant, Jacob Ridgway, Pau
Beck, Elihu Chauncey, Jos. p. Nosrii
Geo. w. Smith, w. Il. Hirst, Wm.l
I, Duane, v. L. Bradford. Charles e
Dingee, Hartman Kuhn, Richard Alsor
Charles Wharton. John Psrot, jos. {
Fisher, John Markoe. Jno. O. Cressor
,, VIM. Platt, H. Hollingsworth. Davi
! Paul Brown, Horace Binney. Geo. Per
. per, Benjamin Chew. E. Styles El.
Henry Pratt, Roberts Vaux, Thos. ALL
bone, Mat. Newkirk, Edw. A. Soude
Hymen Gratz, Wash ]. Duffee, And sc,
= eral hundred others.