The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-25
Acet,Iene. the Ne,r Gas.

Acctyiene. the new Illuminating gas de-
scribed by the Morning News a few days
ago. appears TO be attracting considerable
of the attention Of both the scientific
and the commercial worlds. Calcium car
bide is the name by which the base Of the
gas is technically known. II was some
thing OF a scientific curiosity until pro-
fessor Of chemistry discovered a way Of
producing IL in practically unlimited guam
tities,and At a cost that appears insignih-
cant in comparison with the cost Of the
gas at present served in the cities. The
process. stated In a few words and without
attempt at technical explanation, consists
in fusing lime and carbon together in an
electrical furnace and Iiquifying the pro-
duct
A few nights ago the discovery was
exhibited tested and explained at the
Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. and
from the report published by the Press of
that city, the facts herein mentioned are
taken. Bringing his audience in his lecture.
through the details Of production down to
the moment Of the commencement of
consumption, Prof Wilson Ohe discov-
erer) touched match to the burner. In
stantly a pure white and solid looking
light Of intense brilliancy was produced.
Nothing like it," says the Press, ever
came within the ken of a gas manager or
dazzled the vision Of a photometrist." The
burner used was an ordinary six-foot gas
tip with which the acetylene. It is claim
ed, developed go candle-power per hour
while burning 1--WE feet of the gas per
hour. There was no smoke, smell or dirt
The incandescent lights in the building,
in contrast with the aggressive acetylene.
looked as dun as red-hot hairpins"
As to the cost of the new illuminant-
one OF the most noteworthy claims made
for it-it is declared that actual service
has proved that one electrical horse power
will produce thirty pounds of calcic car
bide in twenty-four hours. and acetylene
produced from this will yield gas that
can be sold at a profit at price which.
based on equal candle power with the gas
now used, would be equal to about cents
per 1000 feet. This does not mean cents
straight per 1000 feet consumed. It is
claimed the new gas will produce fifty-six
candle power per cubic foot against six
teen to twenty candle power for the or
binary gas. On that basis it would take
1850 cubic feet of Philadelphia gas to
give the same illumination as ! 900 feet
of acetylene gas. Taking Philadelphia
gas at its present price. the consumer
would pay $3.50 for the same illumination
as it has been possible to produce in
acetylene gas for % cents"
In comparison with electric lights. the
new illuminant is claimed to make almost
as good a showing as against the old gas.
One electrical horse power produces ten
16-candle power lights per hour, equal to
$50 candle power per twenty-four hours.
The same power will produce S,3O5 candle
power in acetylene per twenty-four hours.
The new gas can be supplied to consumers
in liquid form. one steel tube five feet
long by four and one-half inches in d.
ameter will hold sixty-nine pounds of
acetylene. which will produce 1000 cubic
feet of gas.
The claims set forth for acetylene are
truly great If it is so brilliant and cheap
an illuminant as is claimed, and there Is
no "Keeley motor" business about the
discovery, Prof. Wilson has achieved a
triumph that will make him one of the
richest men in the world-provided his
business tact is equal to his scientific
ability.