Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-15
A DREARY LONDON FOG.
NOT ONLY DISACREEABLE.e UT
VERY COSTLY.
Thousands OF Dollars Spent FOR Oas and
other Lights-Total SUI ensiou of
River Tranic-Serious Loss
to Commerce.


A London fog is not merely u Oh eer-
less and disagreeable. but also very
costly affair, says the London Leisure
Hour. Some years ago, after n 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 rs an ordinary
January day. OF 81 per cent, or over
thirty-tive million cubic feet" The
price was at that time three shillings
per thousand cubic feet. so that the
public had 10 pay TO this one company
50, 250 extra on account of the fog.
No less than 9, 500 tons OF coal were car
BOMBED during the twenty-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 ascertained and
declared by only one of the companies
supplying gas to the public; others
having also an enormous production,
such as tho South Metropolitan Gas
Company, the strike Mt the works ut
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 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 Il, OF Benja-
man Franklin. He thus introduced
his plan TO the people OF Paris. Il
was the other evening in n grand COM
pany, where the new lamp of NJ. Lange
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 | 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 ii is only on ac-
count OF the calculation he makes Us to
the cost OF candle-light. Suppose, he
says, there are 100,00 families in
Paris, and that these families consume
in the night half a pound Of bougies. or
candles per hour. Taking one family
with another, this he thought mod
crate estimate. In the six months be-
tween March Goth and September goth
there are 1873 nights, during seven
hours OF which candles are burnt; in
all 1,2Sl hours. These hours null
tiplied by 100000 give the total
Of 1913, 100, 600 hours. At the current
price OF wax and tallow. he demon
strated that the city OF Paris could
save 90 075, 600 livres, in the half year,
by early rising and using sunlight.
There would be also considerable saw
ing in the other six months, though
the days are shorter. 1t is pleasant to
recall this jeu a. esprit OF Franklin. "a
1t sets us thinking what must be the
actual cost OF candle-light and lamp
light in the hundreds OF thousands OF
houses and work-rooms, shops and
offices, during regular London fog.
There are many things besides the in
creased expense for light that must be
counted in the cost OF fog. We Won
der how much the railway companies
have to pay for the decorating signals,
heard on every line and near every
station, on afoggy morning or evening.
for the safety OF the crowds OF pas
sengers, rs well as OF property. In
quiry at one of the chief stations failed
to obtain any trustworthy estimate OF
this expense. The largest and most
serious loss due to fog is caused by the
total cessation OF labor and traffic on
the river. Not the steamers only, but
the barges and lighters and boats OF
every kind have to be laid up to avoid
collision and other mishaps; and work
has 10 be suspended at the riverside
wharves and quays. On some occa-
sions, when the fog has been dense and
long-continued. the commercial loss
has been enormous, and the poor labor
ers have Also suffered from the enforced
suspension of business on the river
Shopkeepers detest fogs because Gus
toners avoid dark days for shopping
and carriage people stay ut home
Cabmen dislike them, from the waste
/ of time and the damage to which their