The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-07
DIR. TnoRNToN's nrponr.

DIR. THORNTONS REPORT.
Hon. d ?. MADDEN, President Taxing District
Dear SiIe-In compliance with your letter
OF instructions OF recent date have visited
the works and investigated the process OF
gas manufacture of both gaslight COM
panies. ! herewith submit, as par. of this
report, the written reports OF Supt. Frank
Berce, OF the Memphis Gaslight Com
pany, and Supt. L. &. Kniess, of the
Equitable Gaslight Company. These re.
ports show moro clearly the process of
manufacture OF the gas made by their
respective companies, than ! could give
you by attempting to describe their meth
DDS after my inspection of their works and
receiving from them their verbal state.
ments.
/ will avail myself OF this opportunity
TO express 10 these gentlemen and other
officials OF both companies my thanks for
information given and other cour,esies
shown me.
The change proposed in the manufac-
ture OF gas and now in process OF being
made by the Memphis Gas Light Com.
pany seems TO me 20 be beneficial one
Tor the patrons OF the company, inasmuch
rs 1t is claimed that the Illuminating prop
critics OF the gas to be manufactured by the
new process will be superior to that by the
old. AS seen by reference 10 Superin-
tendent Bierce's report, gas made from
crude petroleum oil is the Innovation con.
templated, which will be delivered to con.
sumers with coal gas in such proportion rs
viii increase its Illuminating property.
THIS crude petroleum is brought to the
works in tank cars, and there manipulated
as described in Mr.. Biercc's report.
The Equitable Gas Light Company is
manufacturing a water gas by what is
known the "Jerzmanowski process"
using bcnznc, n product Of petroleum
oil, which is brought TO the COM
pany's works in tank cars ready for
manipulation. For technical description
Of process VI manufacture see report of SUI
pcrintendcnt knicse. BY reference TO the
official report OF Dr. T.. G.. Love, gas ex
amincr OF the city Of New York, find gas
made 10y the 'Jerzmanowski process" ex-
tensively used there. My Information is
that It is used also in Brooklyn, Baltimore,
Chicago, Albany, n. Y, and other places
with apparent good results. In Massachu.
sells the manufacture Of water gas is for
hidden by law, aud the attempt To have
the law repealed has led TO protest against
the legalizatlOn Of the use OF any gas which |
contains more than l0per cent. Of carbonlc |
oxida.
The so-callod "water gas" thus alluded |
to Is derived from the decomposition Of |
steam 10y the action OF inundesccnt coal |
ana enriched with the yapOr OF naptha.
All gases used Tor illuminating purposes |
are more or less dangerous 10 animal life. |
and tins danger IS increased by the undue |
presence OF carbonic oxide. Accidents |
have occurred from all Illuminating gases. |
My information Is tho gases now under |
do not contain carbonic oxide |
enough 10 render them objectionable Tor |
public use; hence, anauming this 90 be cor |
rect II proper precautions are observed by |
| would recommend these |
gases as pure, healthyand Illuminating /
| could not arrive ut IAN estimate oi the |
cost per loo feet Of the manufacture OF |
gas 10y these new methods and compare |
,alno with price ot pure coal gas.
Respectfully submitted,
g.. Il. TuouNroN.
PRECEDENT Board Of Health. |
TIVE MEMPHIS Gas LIGHr COMPANY.
The following communication was read
from Frank Biecc, engineer and general
manager Of the Memphis Gas Light Com.
pany
"ln compliance with your request I
report upon the processes Of
making gas by this company, viz;
'CUA Gas-l. We have series Of re-
oris Tor disiilling coal. In the dccompo.
'ition the volatile matter goes forward NJ
lapDn and gases; much is eliminated me-
Of the yapors, others remain ~
defiant property aud Il the light giving
iase. OF the gases much Is eliminated be-
'ausc undesirable, chemically; others NJ.
aimed because ot their volatility for the
iurp0se Of supporting the light giving
'apors aud conveying them IN suspension
o where Il Is uscd ~ well NJ to aid aud
import combustion al the point Of con.
80. The gas is analogous 10 nearly II not
VI other Illuminating gnscs, differing only
n the measure Of its constituency and
luminosity.
IS. Gas from crude petroleum oil and
team. We have some large apparatus
Known o. cupolas which We test very
tightly with the blast aud then coniinc the
icat. Outside Of these confined heat
We take oil lcfudc petroleum.
md subject Il b. q decomposition by dis.
illalion. We also take ordinary steam ,
nj do the same thing With Il, and then
Va associate these two dcc0mpIsed mate
ials, the steam being entirely gaseous and
be- oil combination Tor assuciatuul If
suica and yap0m within the heated cupola
'hcre they become new formation |
pially diEsDcinled from their original Gle.
leniafy connection, aud from TINS point |
lrwafd the objects and purposes ace the
imc ~ that Of gas from coal rs they are
Kin and the treatment "a the same NJ
bat Of coal gas Tor lho removal 81 s.0me II
be- enscs, which, ~ with coal, are undo.
ublc.
~. wccin deliver gas In any proportion
'hich may be- desired II that from coal
nd that from oil Ia combination.
-. The superior cxcullency claimed for
ss from crude petroleum oil IS only To- sup.
81 olciiant matter, which IL
DO iadinting power Of light, and our ability
IT'D the process We have for putting Il ia
lch form aa 10 deliver II.
TnE EquiTAnLg oAsLioHr Company.
supi. y. G. Knio~. II the Equitable
aslighi Company, submitted the follow
" on 90 the gas manufactured aud sup.
lied by that company:
III " made BY tho "Jcrgmanowski pro.
~ aud by an examination Of tho com.
araliye analysis made 10y DE-. y. q. Love,
b. official gas examiner of the city Of New
ofk, YOU will observe that IT, ingredients
lakc u q safe commodity fof nscs oi illu.
iinaiing. heating Or culinary purposes.
"Ihe absolute purity ofthe material used
J ils manufacture, viz Bonzine, super.
Gated steam aud rick lime, dubar the .