Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-12-17

tic generator is attached to the main
| supply pipe of the house and the Or
binary gaspipes utilized
At the local offices of the Acetylene
Gas company exhibitions are given
showing its great superiority over coal
gas and electricity. The burner sup
piled for the consumption of the gas
uses up one-half cubic foot per hour,
and is equivalent to 125 candles in il
Illuminating power, while the ordinary
city gas burner, consuming five cubic
feet, gives twenty candle power. and
the incandescent lamps fifteen candle
power. Acetylene gas burns with a
flame, the light Of which resembles
that of the sun more than any other
known illuminant. Under its rays,
which are the purest white, all colors
and shades are accurately distinguish
able.
The power of the light can be imag-
lned when, after placing a large in
candeSeent lamp of 100 candle power
in the white glow of one small one
foot burner using acetylene, it will
NNNSS - SAA>SNS"' <AAO IA1S SO-SdIlSu III
candescent wonder looks like merely
an ineffectual red hot hairpin," so in
tense is the rival light of the acety-
lene.
Acetylene presents hygenic ad-
vantage over other gases on account of
its lack of heat Six fve-foot flames
OF ordinary gas use nominally thirty
cubic feet of gas to give as much light
as one flame burning one cubic foot
of acetylene, but really the six five
foot burners use over forty-five feet
of gas as compared with one of acety-
lene. Thus it is evident that the
amount of heat delivered into a room
from acetylene is less than one-thir-
tleth that of ordinary gas, or about the
same as the heat from the bulb OF an
incandesCent lamp. This practically
amounts TO nothing in the effect upon
the temperature of room. The COM
bustion, furthermore, is complete and
total, no portion of the gas escaping
to Vitiate the air of an apartment
Although acetylene will asphyxiate
the same as ordinary gas, it is less
dangerous because it's distinctive odor
gives immediate notice of its presence.
Unlike coal gas, which is somnific, or
water gas, which is without odor, it
has pungent, penetrating smell,
which gives notice of leakage long be-
fore dangerous proportions are
reached.
The economic advantages are mani
fold. The cost Of the acetylene light
is much less per candle power than
ordinary gaslight. At Is cents per
pound for carbide, the gas costs 3 cents
per cubic foot. Approximately, it is
but tWO-thirds the cost OF city gas.
In large quantities the calcide can
be procured even cheaper, for 10 cents
q pound. The demand for it at pres
ent, however, is so great and the diff
ticulty of procuring ingredients for the
manufacture so difficult that the price
will remain the same and not become
cheaper, as has been anticipated. An
other advantage lies in its WhiteneSS.
All work can be done at night with
the use or acetylene which hitherto
had to be deferred until daylight. In
surgical, dental and microscopic work
it shows realities as they are, and pre-
vents mistakes in nocturnal eXamina-
tons.
The practical applications of acety
lene are increasing daily. 1t is used
not only for domestic Illuminating pur-
poses, but it's advantage for halls,
churches, theaters, hotels, and gardens
has been effectually demonstrated. 1t
is now used extensively in whole
towns, villages and cities in the west.
For the special lighting of boats, rail-
way and street cars, as we'll as ele-
yators, lighthouses and signal stations,
it is rapidly pushing out other forms
of Illuminating power, even the Edison
lamp. Furthermore, the chemical rays
of the acetylene light are such as to
adapt it readily to photography, both
in regard to the exposure of the mega
tives and the printing of them. 1t
is already in use in one large gallery
in Chicago with most successful results,
and has comparatively displaced both
the arc light and solar lantern for the
making of engagements. It's steadi
ness and uniformity are invariable;
consequently it will undoubtedly be-
come the standard unit for photome&-
ric measurements, displacing the old,
uncertain candle power. Scientists
everywhere approve of its adoption as
a standard.
The further use Of acetylene in do
nestle economy is soon to be demon
strated. By the introduction of GER
tain quantity Of air into the gas hot
fame can be obtained, sufficient for
cooking purposes of any extent Like
wise, it's use in house heating is a rec
ognized fact. Its practicahility, how
ever, is still matter of speculation.
With the introduction of the proper
amount of air it is said that pound
of acetylene is convertible into II, 1923
heat units in the centrigrate kilo-
gramme system.
THE RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS