Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07
RIVALS OF THE sun.
Methods of illumination Used in All
Ages and Countries
TO THROW LIGHT In DARK PLACES.
Using Sea Shells and the Skulls Of Animals
for Lamps
TIE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING

Just what the first attempts to produce
light were are unknown at the present day,
but it is certain that for long time they
were of a rude and primitive character.
Wood fires, kept constantly burning,
torches, rush lights and faggots, are first
spoken of in history as the means most COM
monty employed.
The most primitive OF lamps were the
skulls of animals, in which fat was burned,
and certain sea shells formed admirable
lamps for those who could procure them. In
some of the cottages of Shetland, at the pres
ent day, shells of the roaring buckle are
still in use, and undoubtedly form the most
ancient kind of lamp now in existence.
When pottery and metal began to be
used the principle of the natural lamps was
for a long time retained, as seen in the
ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman lamps,
and in the stone boxes and cups of northern
nations. The invention of lamps some
writer's have attributed to the Egyptians,
but, more probably, they received it from
the older civilization of India.
Among the northern nations of antiquity
lamps were in use. but the difference in cli-
mate necessitated different kind of lamp.
These were in the form of stone boxes, and
solid fat being placed in them, a wick was
thrust in the middle, which being lighted
consumed the fat.
The Esquimsux still form square boxes
of soapstone and use them in the same way.
The North American Indians, in their
journeys through the caves of Kentucky,
used cane joints filled with tallow for light
Succeeding these lamps of antiquity came
the various forms of lamps for burning
whale oil.
CANDLES IN THE cATACoMBs.
Although candles are spoken of as in use
at very remote period, it is thought that
| the use of the modern candle really began
during the early prosecutions of the Christ
ians. Being forced to seek hiding places in
caves and catacombs, the need they found
for some form of artificial light brought
about this result.
As late as the sixteenth century candles
were used to very limited extent, and as
| luxury. About this latter date candles had
become the light largely employed at pub
lie meetings. They were the thick wicked
| variety, and demanded the constant atten-
ton of some one to snuff them. The divine
or lecturer of that period was often COM
PEELED in the midst of his discourse to resort
| to that operation in order toobtain sufficient
light. While candles have for many years
lost the place they once held, yet for certain
occasions they still remain unrivalled.
During several centuries certain class
of philosophers, styling themselves al
chemists, fourished in Europe and else
where, and in their vain and foolish at
tempts to find the philosophers stone
stumbled upon the facts which led to the
discovery OF gases.
But the honor and merit of the first ap-
| plication Of coal gas to useful purposes,
though disputed by one or two others, seem
to belong to William Murdoch, a resident
of Redruth, in Cornwall. This gentleman,
who had lighted several buildings in an ex-
perimental way, constructed gas works and
lighted an extensive manufacturing estab-
| lishment in 1902 In this case the gas
proved so satisfactory as to Immediately
take the place Of all other forms of light.
The following year he1ighted another estab-
| lishment at Soho, on the occasion of gen.
eral illumination in honor of peace. This
peace proved of short duration, the bloody
battles of Trafalgar, Austerlitz and jena
following within a few years.
COAL GAS IN PARIS.
In 1902 a Frenchman named PHILIPPE
| Lebon lighted house in Paris with gas.
This created the greatest wonder and amaze
ment from the thousands who witnessed it,
and the local newspapers were loud in their
praises of this new means of producing
artificial light. French authors still claim
| for Lebon the honor of having first sug-
gested that gas could be used in practical
way.
These demonstrations in England and
| France, made by Murdock and Lebon, by
means of the press became rapidly known in
various parts of Europe, and attracted the at
tention of certain German named Whittier,
who atterward became the originator ofthe first
| gas company in existence. His Offices and
laboratory were located in London, and
under his direction on the 28th day of Janu-
ary, 1907, number of the streets of that
city were lighted with gas. Shortly after
this a fund of EGO, 600 was raised and a
petition presented to the King asking an
act of incorporation. From that time for
ward the manufacture and sale of gas made
rapid and constant progress.
Coal gas was first introduced into the
United States at Baltimore in 1916, and tor
| some time its progress was slow and unsat-
istactory. General Charles Roome, still
connected with the Consolidated Company
| of New York, stated in an address which he
delivered in 1876, that when he first became
connected with the Manhattan Company of
that city there were but four or five COM
| panies in the country. This company at
that time lighted less than dozen private
dwellings, and there were but few street
| lights in which gas was used.
Il In contrast to this there are now over
1000 gas companies in the United States,
| which furnish employment to more than
q, 900 men.
DISCOVERY OF WATER GAS.
In 1898 French chemist named Lavois-
| ier, in series of experiments, stumbled
| upon the process by which water gas is
made! He passed steam through body of
charcoal which had been highly heated and
obtained, as a result, water gas. Just how
far he might have pursued these investiga-
tions can never be known, as he perished
by the guillotoine during the Reign of Terror
way to the place of execution he begged to
be allowed one day more of life to make
known to the world an important invention,
but the party in power refused to grant his
request.
Sundry experiments similar to those of
Lavoisier were made from time to time but
while coal gas came rapidly into use and its
manufacture rapidly increased, the produc-
tion of water gas in practical way and its
introduction as means of illumination are
| quite recent. AS late as 1873 Prof. Lowe
built the first water gas works in this coun-
try. -Four years later the Municipal Com
pany erected water gas works in New York,
adopting what is known as the Tessic du
Motay process. Perhaps no better illustra-
tion of the growth of this business can be
furnished than the facts which relate to this
company. It now uses the buildings which
contained its original works as store house.
its business has increased enormously, and
one of the group of its holders is the largest
in America.
While it i true that natural gas has not
been used fdr practical purposes in this part
of the world until within very few years,
| it is equally true that it has been known
and used quite extensively in some parts of
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