Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-29
ELECTRIC LIGHT IN LONDON.


Progress that Is slow-Goipg Bsck to Gas
for Street Lights.
London Times.
It Is to be regretted that more use has
not been made up to the present time of
thst admirable Invention, the electric
light. A few years ago it took the world,
the Specializing world, by
storm, and the city still remembers the
panic In gas shares which followed upon
the announcement Of the discoveries of
Mr.. Edison and other inventors. 1t
was supposed that gas wss doomed, and
that the stock and goodwill OF
the gas companies were not worth much
more than the value Of their retorts con-
sidered as old iron. We know what fol-
lowed upon those hasty imaginiDgs; and
we know that gas is now 81 investment
as greatly favored as any. But at the
same time the electric light Is beginning
to make its advantages felt. The thea-
tiers, following the lead of the Savoy, are
using 1t largely, to the great increase Of
their safety and comfort. The clubs are
beginning to use II. The shops in Bond
street and the neighborhood are finding
1t excellent for the display and for the
preservation of their wares. And one or
two enterprising companies are promis-
ing private householders that II rifty or
hundred will combine in any district,
the new light shall be supplied to them.
All this, however, implies progress that
Is slow, relatively to the importance and
value of the invention. The streets are
not lighted by 1t; no one takes it up on
8 really great scale. The truth, as has
aften been pointed out, seems to be that
the restrictive clauses OF the
have stood seriously in the
way of the industry. A clause in the act
enables the local authority to take over
all the stock and plant Of any electric
lighting company at the end OF twenty
one years, paying nothing more than the
value of the materials. Al Birming-
ham, as we know, the corporation
has bought the gas and water-works,
to the great advantage of the rate
payers; and Mr.. Chamberlain, who had
been SO largely instrumental In bringing
about that result, wished to repeat 1t all
over the country with regard to the
electric light. With that prospect before
their eyes, investors did not see any like
lihood Of a good return of their capital,
and they would not combine to form
electric lighting companies.
An important discussion has just taken
place before committee OF the City Com
missioners OF Sewers. That body recon-
mended that . contract should be entered
into with the Anglo-American Brush Cor
poratlon for lighting with electricity the
very important district Of the city south of
Cheaps1de, Ludgate Hill and Fleet street.
In making the proposal Mr.. Bel, the chair
man, ske,ched the history of the expert
ments in public electric lighting already
made in the city. First came the J.blach-
kof1 contract, in the esrly days Of electric
lighting; but it cost seven and half
times IS much as gas, and was pro-
systems were tried at once. The Brush
twice as much as gas, but it gave
fifteen times the light. The Lontin
system cost four times as much as
gas, and its Illuminating power was al
most exactly equal to that OF the Brush
system; while the Siemens system cost q
little less than the Loutin, and gave q
little less light. In the end, after s
rather long trial, all the systems were
withdrawn, and the city went back to
gas for its Illumination. But the more
active members among the authorities
are not yet satisfied, and 8
fresh attempt is being made
to permit the Brush Company,
with all its new developments and eppli-
snces, to undertake the lighting Of an
important district, for a period long
enough to be really decisive. The pro-
posals is that the Brush Company shall be
paid s43si for lighting this district
extending from Cheapside, Ludgate II IL,
and Fleet street, to the river-and that
for this sum they shall supply an ilumi-
nation equal to thirtY-tWo times that OF
gas. Moreover, they are to have the
monopoly of supplying private customers,
though the commissioners do not attempt
10 fix maximum price; and to this con-
'cession the company doubtless looks for
the chief part Of its profits. The wide
extension of the business of the Gros-
venor Gallery, in purveying the electric
light to houses and shops In the West
End indicates that success would attend
a like attempt to supply the light to the
shops and Offices in Cheapside and Lud-
gate Hill.
But all Is not plain sailing for the Brush
Company and the committee which favors
them. The proposal OF Mr.. Bell was met
by q good deal of opposition, some of it
speaking the voice of reason, and some
suggesting, though more or less remote
ly, the resistance of Q vested interest. 1t
is not to be expected tnat the friends Of
the gas companies will submit
tamely to the encroachments of
so dangerous rival as the electric
light, or thst they are foolish enough to
suppose that because gas conquered
while electricity was in its infancy, there
fore 1t will always corq1er unaided. The
gas companies know inst their monopoly
Of lighting is threatened, and that
with every new improvement in the
electric light 1t becomes more difficult to
maintain. Therefore, they and their sup
porters do not consent all at orce to give
the Brush Company another chance in the
city; and By large majority the ques-
II the report of the committee is to be
reconsidered in the sense which Mr.. Sly
advocated-with view OF deciding be-
tween the Brush, the MsXim-Weston and
other systems-Hell and good; there is
nothing to be said against that proceed
ing except that 1t viii take up some time.
A very diminutive specimen of the
equine race arrived at New York from
China the other day and Immediately
took rank as the smallest horse in the
United States. It's weight is seventy
eight pounds, and 1t is stabbed under an
ordfnaru ronrfor hafn~ oplv fnirtu Avo