The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-02-02
Artificial Light.

Mr.. Richard j. Monks, the treasurer
of the South Boston Gas-Light COM
pany, gave the following statistics in a
recent lecture before the Beacon society
of Boston.
The use of whale oil originated
with the NOrwegians. In 1880 the
Dutch had t..o hundred vessels, em-
ploying fourteen thousand men, in the
business. In New England the whales
were first caught from small boats.
The Indians engaged with avidity in
the hunt for whales. In 1858 there
were six hundred vessels of 200. 900
tons burden engaged in the American
whale fishery. The argand lamp was
first used in 1900 Candles were spok-
en- of first in remote period, Their
use really began in the early history of
Christianity. As late as the sixteenth
century their use was limited. In
spite of modern methods, the candle
is used for certain purposes, and the
soft light cannot fa.i to please the eye.
The honor and merit of the first ap-
plication of coal gas seems to belong
to William Murdoch, of Redworth,
Cornwall. In 1902 he lighted an ex-
tensive manufacturing establishment.
France also claimed the honor of its
first demonstration, but not satisfac
torily. Jan. Is, 1907. saw a number
of London streets lighted by gas. The
amount of 100000 was raised, and the
king was petitioned for the incorpora-
tion OF Il company. Two companies
supply London at 10 cents per one
thousand cubic feet, and their capital
is $50, 100000. Coal gas was first used
in Baltimore in 1916, and for some
time its progress was slow and unsat-
isfactory. Now there are over one
thousand works in the United States,
furnishing employment to over twenty
five thousand men, port on being
used for the manufacture of water gas,
I'm 1903 Frenchman discovered
the process by which water gas was
made. In 1875 Prof. Lowe established
| the first works in the United States.
The business has increased enormously
here, but not always, because hard coal
and naphtha are so expensive. Natur-
nj gas has been known and extensively
used in Asia and China for a long time.
History tells us of Il we'll in France in
the time of Julius Cesar. The first in
the United States was in Charleston.
The Taylor house, in Fredonia, n. Y,
was illuminated in 1924 in honor of
Lafayette. A few years ago a gas we'll
was discovered in Ocean Spray, near
this city (Boston). The nature and
efficiency of natural gas is but partly
understood.
Petroleum was known to mankind
from the dawn of history, 1t was
spoken of in Sweden in 1850. In west
ern Pennsylvania it was found on the
ground aud used as medicine many
years before wells were bored, In
1858 we'll ~ feet deep yielded more
than 1000 barrels day. Then reck-
less spirit of speculation arose. 1t en-
richcd few, while it ruined thousands.
The standard drill is five and one-half
inches, the flow being as great from a
small rs from large hole. In 1880
the production amounted TO 5000, 900
barrels, and the stock on hand June /,
1880, was valued at $ll ,000,0 900. Rus
sia has valuable deposits in Baku, long
known, but just put to commercial
use. The value of exports thence in
1888 was $l5, ,000,0 600. In Russia they
are ahead of America in being able to
use the rcsiduum or petroleum. So
abundant is the oil in Baku, that work
can be carried on by its flame in the
night, and the oozing of the oil from
the ground prevents dust.