Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-15

Bristol hotel bearing his name, backed up by a meeting of the citizens of the town, has squared himself with num- Der of his enemies. MT Gridley has for years been noted for his peculiarities; he was in fact crank, as the word goes, and never forgot nor forgave an in- jury. c. H. Riggs, prohlbitionist editor succeeded in driving MT Gridley out of business, but at the loss of his paper, which he was forced to sell out year or more since. A number of other of Bristol's representative citizens, mem- bers of the board of health, also incur red MT Gridley's hatred. On Saturday last he squared himself with his perse- cutors, his offer to present $5,0O0 farm to the town upon condition that the gift shall be annulled if Ex-Editor Riggs or any member of the board of health are ever allowed to set foot upon the farm, being accepted by action of a town meeting. They do some queer things in the land of steady habits.
 FUEL GAS.
 The Scranton Free Press tells of the discovery of an artiicialgas which will make ideal fuel 10 substitute for coal Ingenious minds have been at work on the problem, but until recently small progress was made toward its solution. Now, however, it is claimed that a gas has been manufactured whicheperforms the office of anthracite coal at one-fifth of the expense.
 The claimants manufacture their gas from asphaltum and anthracite coal, and a company has been organized for the purpose of practically utilizing the alleged discovery. The company, which is largely composed of Pennsylvania men, has Governor James A. Beaver for its president, and Adjutant General D. H. Hastings for vice president. Patents have been acquired for the "Rose" pro- cess, by which fuel gas is manufac- tured from combination of anthracite coal and a5phaltum. The gas, during the course of manufacture, is enriched by the injection of a permanent series of hydro-carbon, which are split up and mixed by method peculiar to the pro- cess-that is, the coal gas meets and absorbs, as it rises, stream of asphaltum. It is claimed that the product thus obtained is a uniform long flame, non-condensine and tenacious gas, more closely re. sembling natural gas than any other ar. tifcial gas. It is claimed that experi. ments have been tried at Governor Beavers iron works at Bellefonte, and that the gas does all that is claimed fo, it. The corporation proposes to begin its operations in the matter of furnish ing fuel at New York city, and they will either commence to put in a plant o1 their own at no distant day or form g combination with some of the old illu mlnating gas companies whose business is being rapidly absorbed by the increas ing popularity of the electric light.
 In the face of the wonderful things which have been accomplished in the life time of the present generation it ii scarcely safe to regard with indifference the claims of any invention which has attracted the attention of capitalists Still the Free Press takes little stock ir the fuel gas scheme, and even though ii should do all that is claimed for it sees little danger to the anthracite coal inter ests. Pennsylvania anthracite coal i: used in the manufacture of the new gas and if the coal fields of the state do mol furnish it directly to families or manu featuring concerns the gas manufac turers must use it in large quantities Again if the price of fuel is reduced it. consumption will be largely increased and the demand for the products oj those coal fields will be as great if no, greater than ever. So that in any event the Press has little misgivings of an, effect for injury the new fuel gas may have on the coal fields or the intoro.%. =.