Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-06-12
COST OF LONDON FoGS.
The Great DGmage Done the Business Ia e
terests by Them.

A London fog is not merely cheer
less and disagreeable, but also very
costly, affair. Some years ago, after a
day of regular fog in the month of jan
uary, the following statement was
issued by the Gas Light and Coke
CO..: "Ninety million cubic feet Of gas
were sent out during the twenty-four
hours ending at midnight. This guam
tity was an increase on that of the cor
responding day in the previous year
| (which may be taken as an ordinary
January day. of 81 per cent, or over
thirty-five million cubic feet" The
price was at that time three shillings
per Thousand cubic feet, so that the
public had to pay to this one company
f5, ,250 extra on account of the fog. No
less than 9, 500 tons of coal were car
bonized during the twenty-four hours
to produce 80, 000 600 cubic feet of gas
the largest quantity ever sent out in
one day by the Gas Light and Coke Co.
Let it be remembered that this was the
quantity ascertained and declared by
only one of the companies supplying
gas to the public; others having also an
enormous production, such as the Sotth
Metropolitan Gas Co., the strike at the
works of which at Lambeth last year
caused SO much difficulty and annoy
ance. What was the total amount over
the average, due to that January
days fog, there are no statistics
to show; but it is evident
that the cost to the public for
additional light must be very great.
Nor is it by gas bills only that the cost
of fog is to be reckoned, in the matter
of artificial light Gas meters and the
records of gas companies afford some
approximate statistics, but how can we
reckon the total expense to the multi
tudes who use candles and lamps of
every kind? Many readers will remem-
ber the famous Economical Project"
as he called it, of Benjamin Franklin.
He thus introduced his plan to the peo-
pie of Paris. 81 was the other evening
in grand company, where the new
lamp of M. Lange was exhibited, and
much admired for its splendor. But in
quiry was made, whether the oil con-
sumed 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 was pleased to see the gen.
eral concern for economy, for love
economy exceedingly" A few days
aff !, =, A.. .ot
which was no other than recon-
mendation to use osunlight more, and
artificial light less. The paper is in
Franklin's best style, full of sound
sense and genial humor, but our refer
ence to it is only on account of the cal
culation he makes as to the cost of
candle-light. Suppose, he says, there
are 100, families in Paris, and that
! these families consume in the night half
apound of bougies, or candles per hour.
Taking one family with another, this he
thought moderate estimate. In the
six months between March 20, and
| September 20, there are 1873 nights, dur.
ing seven hours of which candles are
, burnt; in all 1881 hours. These hours
, multiplied by 100000 give the total OF
, 1913, 100, 900 hours. At the current price
, of wax and tallow, he demonstrated
! that the city of Paris could save 96, ,075,.
! 900 livres, in the half year, by early ris'
, ing and using sunlight! There would
be also considerable saving in the other
six months though the days are shorter
It's pleasant to recall this .ieu d esprit Of
Franklin, as it sets us a thinking what
must be the actual cost of candle-light
and lamp-light in the hundreds of thou
, sands of houses and work-rooms, shops
, and Offices during Irregular London fog
I There are many things besides the in
, creased expense for light that must bt
/ counted in the cost of a fog. We won
der how much the railway companies
, have to pay for the dctonating signals
, heard on every line and near every sta
, tion on foggy morning or evening, fol-
+ the safety of the crowds of passengers
, as well as of property. Inquiry at one
+ of the chief stations failed TO obtain any
, trustworthy estimate of this expense
) The largest and most serious loss due tt
fog is caused by the total cessation o
labor and traffic on the river. No
! the steamers only, but the barges ant
, lighters and boats of every kind, have
to be laid up to avoid collision and 9th
, er mishaps; and the work has to bC
, suspended at the riverside wharvcs an(
quays. On some occasions, when the
fog has been dense and long-continued
the commercial loss has been enormous
!. and the poor laborers have also suffered
!. from the enforced suspension OF busi
/, ness on the river. Shopkeepers detes
, fogs because customers avoid dark day
for shopping, and carriage people
stay at home. Cabmen dislike them
from the waste of time and the damag'
. to which their vehicles are liable Driv
ers of omnibuses and of wheeled vehi
cles of every sort know the danger, es
: pecially as it is almost impossible Il
,, discern the customary signal of raisin,
= the hand or the whip, which warn
, those behind to stop. The crash o
broken panels is no infrequent soun,
!. amidst the gloom. To some out doc
= trades and occupations fog puts com
plcte stop, and many an indoor indus
try is seriously hindered. One winter
not long ago, there was loud com
plant from painters and color-printer
and artists that the fogs interfered S
|, much with their work that the loss t
: them was very great In fact, to al
, sorts and conditions Of men, except =
' thieves and rogues, London fog is a
| injury and nuisance London Leisur
Hour.
: Downing an Opponent.
Sub Editor weekly Snorter)-Thi
, here Weekly Boomer over in Squash
S town pitches into our stand on tn ho
question, an makes arguments wot
D | npvpr spcn before We can't ansWe