Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-24
WATER AS A FIJI FL.

Statisticians who have given attention to the matter tell us that the supply of coal, petroleum and natural gas will be exhausted within the next two hundred years. Already scientists are graphing with the question of what shall be the fuel of the future when these substances shall have disappeared from the earth, and some of them have found its solu- tion in water. Water is to be largely the future fuel of the world.
 Even at the present time water is rapidly and surely superseding all other Illuminating substances. People are just beginning to find out that they are consuming water gas in their homes and offices, for which they are paying coal gas prices The first town lighted with water gas was Sheerness in Scotland about 1859; and in Wilmington, Dele ware. water was successfully introduced a year or two later, at an expense less than half that of coal gas. A citizen of Massachusetts named Payne had pro- duced water gas about 1S45, but he died without having solved the problem of rendering it non-eXplosive. He was the target for a great deal of ridicule from the writers for the newspaper press of his time. Had he lived he would have seen his theories developed into actualities that suggest still greater possibilities. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen. Elec- tricity decomposes water by disorganiz- ing those component elements. Eight ninths of water consist of hydrogen gas, which is highly combustible, burning with blue flame and producing the in tensest heat of any chemical element. A cheap method of generating electricity solves the question of cheap and abund- ant fuel so long as water shall exist. No other fuel can compete with this in point of convenience, as it can be con- veyed in pipes to any distance, and its use can be controlled, continued or dis minating gas and steam heat are control led in aprivate a dwelling. Beyond doubt human ingenuity will devise methods whereby the requisite electrica apparatus can be provided for private dwellings, and then the only practica heat question will be an adequate sup ply of water. Edison, the great cleo trician,is already at work on the problem of generating electricity by direct con version from heat, and is confident o success in the endeavor; but whether b, this or some other process the grea desideratum shall be achieved, there is n reason to doubt that simple and cheap CT method will soon be devised. A usually occurs, the end will be reache through a succession of single dii coveries and devices.
 It has been found that the color C flaming hydrogen is changed from blu to that suitable illumination by carbon ization. The process is not expensive but was at the outset rendered difficu by the great danger of explosion e1 countered; a danger which seems have been thoroughly and effectuall obviated. And so we have the mater ial additions and most of the practic; appliances for an inexhaustible suppl of both fuel and light for the whol
 
 world during all coming time. The1 will be no general scarcity of fuel in th world, for nature is still at work in ht subterranean laboratory preparing mo1 coal and petroleum for mans uses, an the announcements of new discoverie in these fields that are made with reg, larly recurring frequency indicate ths the day is yet distant when the wor] will have to turn, as a necessary alte native, to other sources. The resourc, and expedients of nature are inexhaus ible. And while the great volume . water that covers the face of the glol shall continue to ebb and flow in i mighty throbbing there will be rese voir from which the ingenuity of ma can draw fuel and illumination.