Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-24
MORE LIGHTS IN USE.
Mr.. Babbitt Says Candles Are
Increasing in Demand.
MIXED GASES DISCUSSED.
Expert Smith Gives Some Opinions
Upon Light and Lights.
BANKER HOLMES TALKS ON STOCKS
Electricity Makes Plenty of Illuminants
Desirable.
BANKER HOLMES TALKS ON STOCKS
BI,PRoDUCTS OF ARTIFICIAL GAS


sold than ever before The train of thought
is an interesting one, and seems to lead to
the deduction that the more light people
have the more they want 1t was Capulet
who calculated, "More light, We knayes,"
though he may not have been referring to
electric and gas company directors.
Doubtless it has struck many people with
astonishment to learn that notwithstanding
the inroads made on artificial gas making
companies BY kerosene oil, gasoline street
lighting and electric lighting both on street
and in houses, the stocks of these companies
in this city are not only selling above par,
but selling as high as they did before this
multifarious competition came into exist
ence. 1t does not appear that meters lie
with any more plausibility than they did
formerly. so the causes must be sought else
where, and Yesterday DISPATCH reporter
succeeded in finding multiplicity of them.
He naturally struck a stock broker first
Mr.. Frank E. Stephenson. Mr.. Stephenson
stated that the reason was that the bi-pro-
ducts of gas distillation were so large that
dividends might possibly be paid if the gas
were furnished free.
Mr.. J. McNulty, of the Consolidated
Gas Company, was next applied to for in
formation, but he stated that, as his company
made gas from water, he had no figures on
the subject.
Mr.. w. r. Holmes, OF n. Holmes g.
Sons bank, stated that competition had not
done the artificial gas making companies
any harm; that the more light people use
the more they wanted. He stated that when
tallow candles were displaced, a very feeble
gas Jet was so much superior to tallow dip
that very little gas supplied the demand
As more light issupplied the demand grows,
and now people want their surroundings at
night as nearly as light as day, as possible.
Mr.. Holmes stated that such had been the
experience of all who had been engaged in
the manufacture of illuminants. Mr..
Holmes further observed that the loss of
street lighting patronage was not much, as
such illumination had generally been fur
nished at low rates in return for privileges
granted by municipalities.
THOUGHT THE GASES MIXED.
Mr.. R. h. Smith smiled when told that
the Consolidated Gas Company used water
for making gas. He said that, like other
gas companies hereabouts, the bulk OF the
gas the Consolidated furnished at 81 a thou
sand feet was natural gas, and ought to be
furnished at profit at 10 or Is cents for the
same amount, so that profit of over 900
per cent in addition to the value of
the bi-products could be depended
upon, with anything like fair patron
age, to keep the stock of the
company above par. Mr.. Smith stated that
before many weeks disclosures to come in
connection with his suit for infringement
ohal inf
light upon the subject. He stated that the
claim that the gas in question was made
from water was mere subterfuge. He said
the pretense of strengthening natural gas by
an sdmixture of water gas was about as
sensible as a claim to strengthen whisky by
the addition of water would be.
Mr.. Smith stated that it was not at all
likely that Pittsburg would go back to coal
for fuel, except temporarily, should natural
gas fail; that is not in centers where the
consumption would be sufficient to support
gas works. 1t cannot at present be trans
ported great distances through pipes, as the
friction to be overcome is too great, but Mr..
Smith did not despair of the trouble being
finally overcome. He stated that fuel gas
could be manufactured in this city for less
than what the natural article is costing con-
sumers, but he didn't think it could be fur
nished for nothing, notwithstanding the
value of the bi-products. These are coke
and coal tar, from the latter of which are
gotten aniIine dyes, ammoniacal liquor, from
which is gotten ammoniacal salts for fer
tilizing purposes, and there are SO many
other resultant products that chemical
vocabulary is required to mention them.
WE WANT ALL THE LIGHT WE CAN GET.
Mr.. Smith argued with Mr. Holmes that
the more light we have the more we want,
and that electric lighting has only stimu-
lated desire. 1t has been said that "every-
one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be
reproved." Are We then to infer that de-
sire for illumination is an evidence Of
growth in grace? Here is the opportunity
for the optimist to show that the world is
getting better instead of worse.
1t was the testimony of people who visited
Paris 10 to 20 years ago that the immunity
that city possessed from thieves was owing
to its artificial illumination, even the most
remote court or alley being almost as light
as day. 1t was held that two street lamps
were fully equal to one policeman, and it is
known fact that thieves, whose deeds are
confessedly evil, hate light and watch-dogs
about equally.
In this connection Mr.. Smith makes a
statement that will doubtless be news to
most people and appear improbable, but he
makes it on the authority Of Mr. Babbitt,
whose business it is to know, and it is that
there are more candles sold at present in the
United States than ever before. Thus even
those who cannot enjoy electric lighting
must have something else in that way,
though it be favored with the odor of burn
ing tallow. They probably realize what
Charles Lamb held to be true, that the
pleasures of eating, drinking, smoking and
conversation could be but imperfectly en-
joyed in the dark. Even a toby cigar loses
much of its fragrance if you are unable to
see the smoke as you puff it. There are
others beside lovers who will agree with the
Irishman that the moon is worth two Of the
sun, as she gives light by night
when you really need it, and in the absence
of moonlight let us have all the artificial
light we can get at 10 cents thousand feet.
We ought to get it If 1t can be had at that
price The word painter on the isle of
Patmos, to give an idea of the safety of the
New Jerusalem said: "And the gates of it
shall not be shut at all by day, for there
shall be no night there. And there shall in
no wise enter into it any thing that defleth,
neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or
maketh a lie" Those who are conversant
with the rascality that enters into the clos
ing nights of the average political campaign
will appreciate the difficulties that would
surround the heeler were he forced to work
in the full glare of electric light and re-
spectacle citizens were to work in relays to
fhWart his efforts