The state herald., 1897-10-22
AN ENGLISH DEVICE.
INGENIOUS EcoNoMiCALINvEN-
TION,
Plan for Utilizing the Heat for the Gas
Street Lamps to Heat Water for the


The latest novelty In municipal char
ity In England is now on exhibition ut
the Crystal palace, in London, and Is
attracting considerable attention from
philanthroplsts and social refOrmers.
1t proposes to utilize the heat gerler-
nted by the ordinary gas lamps of the
streets to furnish hot water for the
poor, who can ill-afford fires to make
tea and coffee rs often us they need 1t,
and to provide an opportunity for
wCrkingmen who are kept out late at
night, or have to turn out early in the
morning, to obtain healthful and re-
frcShing beverages ut a nominal cost.
At the same time the proposed plan, II
successful, Will considerably reduce the
expense of steet-llghting, which
amounts to several millions of dollars
u year In London.
1t Is estimated that the heat wasted
by the London street lamps, II turned
TO practical account, would furnish
120,OO0,000 gallons OF boiling water
year, or about 125 gallons lamp
daily. without my additional cost ex-
cept the expense OF putting up the ap-
pai7ltlis.
III this water could be sold at the
rate of II 'ha' penny" or cent gal
lon. the saving would be $1,20O.00
II Is also estimated that there would
be a saving of an equal amount In the
fuel bills of the poor.
The model now on exhibition In work.
Ing order at the Crystal palace was in
vented by a London sanitary engineer,
and is being thoroughly tested by ex-
perts not only from London, but from
In NT..., .a.l...
Sheffield and other cities which usu-
ally take the lead in municipal reforms.
The hot-water arrangement Is an
adaptation of the "nicliel-in- -the-slot"
idea. A copper reservoir of Ornamen-
tai design is placed at the top of the
street lamp. which adds to rather than
detracts from its appearance. This
hangs about one foot above the gas Jet,
so that 1t receives all the heat, and Is
large enough to hold four gallons OF
water. Two pipes connect the reser-
voir with the pavement. One of them
taps the water main and the other fur
nishes an escape for the overflow into
the sewer. BY slipping n ha'penny
into the slot a valve is opened md q
gallon of hot water is released. which
can be drawn Off by turning the key
of the faucet. BY an automatic ar
rangement the valve from the supply
pipe is opened and the reservoir is I'M
mediately refilled. so that it is always
full. A thermometer attached to the
reservoir indicates the temperature Of
the water. and to prevent explosions
safety valves are provided which per-
nit the steam to escape. The illumin-
ating power of the lamp is not i'm
paired. and the experts will tell You
that every cubic foot of gas consumed
will heat so many gallons Of water. 1t
IL proposed to erect several expert
mental heaters in Trafalgar square.
near London bridge. in the Whitechap-
el district and other central locations
to test the public convenience Of the
scheme. To eacli lamppost will be at
tached an automatic machine contain
ing small packets OF tea. coffee. sugar
and beef extract. which may be OBJ
tained by the penny-in-the slot PROCESS
so that hungry or thirsty man for
few farthings can obtain cup OF some
hcalthful hot beverage at any time Of
might IN the streets OF London .And-gO
Oh his way rejoicing.