Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
A DREARY LONDON FOG.
NOT ONLY DiSAGREEABLE,B SUI
VERY COSTLY.
Thousands of Dollars Spent for Gas and
Other Lights-Total Suspension %
River Manifestations Loss
to Commerce.

Hour Some years ago, after day of
regular fog in the month of January,
the following statement was issued by
the 'Gas Light and Coke Company:
Ninety million cubic feet Of gas were
sent out during the twenty -four hours
ending at midnight. This quantity
was an increase on that of the corre-
spending day in the previous year
(Which may be taken as an ordinary
January day. of 81 per cent, or over
thirty-iive million cubic feet The
price was at that time three shillings
per thousand cubic feet. so that tho
public had to pay to this one company
Is, 250 extra on account of the fog.
No less than 8, 800 tons of coal were car
BOMBED during the twcnty-four hours
! to produce 80, 900. 900 cubic feet of gas
the largest quantity ever sent out in
one day by the Gas Light and Coke
| Company. Let it be remembered that
this was the quantity ascertaincd and
declared by only one of the companies
supplying gas to the public: others
having also an enormous production,
such as the South Metropolitan Gas
Company, the strike at the works at
which at Lambeth last year caused so
much difficulty and annoyance. What
was the total amount over the aver
age, due to that January days fog.
there are no statistics to show: but
it is evident that the cost to the pub
lie for additional light must be very
great. Nor is it by gas bills only that
the cost of a fog is to be reckoned, in
the master of artificial light. Gas me-
ters and the records of gas companies
afford some approximate statistics, but
how can we reckon the total expense
to the multitudes who use candles and
lamps of every kind? Many readers
will remember the famous ''Economi-
cal Project" as he called it, of Benja-
man Franklin. He thus introduced
his plan to the people of Paris. Il
was the other evening in grand COM
pany, where the new lamp of M. LANCE
was exhibited, and much admired for
its spendor. But inquiry was made,
whether the oil it consumed was not in
proportion to the light it afforded; in
which case there would be no saving in
the use of it. No one present could
satisfy us on that point; but l was
pleased to see the general concern for
economy, for love economy exceed
ingly." A few days after Franklin
published his project, which was no
other than recommendation to use
sunlight more, and artificial light less
The paper is in Franklin's best style,
full Of sound sense and genial humor,
but our reference to it is only on ac-
count of the calculation he makes as to
the cost of candle-light. Suppose, he
says, there are 100, 900 families in
Paris, and that these families consume
in the night half IL pound of bougies. OF
candles per hour. Taking one family
with another, this he thought a mod.
crate estimate. In the six months be-
tween March Goth and September goth
there are 1873 nights during sever
hours of which candles are burnt; ir
all 1,2S1 hours. These hours null
tiplied by 100000 give the tota
OF 1913, 100, 900 hours. At the curren
price of wax and tallow, he demon
strated that the city of Paris coult
save SO 075. OCS .livres, in the half year
by early rislS and using sunlight
There would be also considerable saw
. ing in the other six months, though
!! the days are shorter 1t is pleasant t,
: recall this iem a. esprit OF Franklin, a
/ 1t sets us thinking what must be tn
= actual cost of candle-light and lamp
. light in the hundreds of thousands O
q houses and work-rooms shops an,
offices, during regular London fog
There are many things besides the in
creased expense for light that must b
counted in the cost Of a fog. We won
der how much the railway companie
have to pay for the decorating signals
heard on every line and near ever
station, on foggy morning or evening
for the safety of the crowds OF pas
sengers, as well as of property. In
quiry at one of the chief stations faile
to obtain any trustworthy estimate g
this expense. The largest and mos
serious loss due to fog is caused by tn
total cessation of labor and traffic O
the river. Not the steamers only, bu
: the barges and lighters and boats {
every kind have to be laid up to avoi
: collision and other mishaps; and wor
has to be suspended at the riversid
wharves and quays. On some occs
sions, when the fog has been dense an
long-continued. the commercial los
has been enormous, and the poor labo,
ers have also suffered from the enforce
suspension OF business on the rive
Shopkeepers detest fogs because GU
toners avoid dark days for shoppin,
and carriage people, stay at hom
, Cabmen dislike them, from the was,
of time and the damage to which the
vehicles are liable. Drivers of omn
buses and wheeled vehicles of eve,
; sort know the danger, especially as
is almost impossible to discern the Gu
tomary signal Of raising the hand
the whip. which warns those behind
, stop. The crash of broken panels
no infrequent sound amidst the glool
To some outdoor trades and occup