Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-02-12

The growing interest manifested by
the business community in the Rev gas
process and apparatus calls attention
10 the ruttling letter which Mr.. Henry
&. Rev. the famous inventor. wrote
over month ago to Col. Milton j.
Payne. President Of the Kansas City
MOI Gas Company. We extract the
following from 1t as very pertinent at
this time. when investors. capitalists
and gas companies are giving the Rev
process such serious consideration.
I'm the course of his letter Mr.. Rev
says.
"Whcn the consolidation was effected
between the old Kansas City Gas Com.
pany and the Missouri Gas Company
there was an understanding and a
'gen,lemen's agreement that the Rev
process and apparatus which manu-
featured high candlc-pOwer carbureted
water-gas from cheap bltuminous coal.
crude oil and water in one apparatus
and operation should have fair test.
70 as TO compare the cost Of gas made
by the Rev process with the cos. of gas
made at the old works of the Kansas
City Gas Company. which plant first
cokes coal in retOrts by the cOal-bench
process and then utilities the resulting
coke In what Is known as the Lowe i'm.
proved w0ter.gas apparatus.
"'rhese promises have been frequent.
~ made, but although the works were
ready 10 be operated on the first Of DC.
tOber, as shown by dispatch from
your superintendent. Mr.. George =.
Clarke. to the United Gas Improvement
Company Of Philadelphia on the first
Of October, 1897. the promises then
made and reiterated several times since
have not been carried out. To he sure.
- couple of men were sent from the
East (Mtxsrs. Norris and DOnOhue) ~
operate the new plant for time before
II was shu; down. but not being famll-
iar with either the theory or the prac.
lice Of the apparatus and departing on.
;irely from the practice Of skilled oper-
atOrs who had preceded them they soon
doubled the quantity Of fuel used In
,lie manufacture Of gas. and then. ! am
led to believe, Informed the general su.
perlntendcnt Of the works. Mr.. Walton
Clark. OF Philadelphia. that the appar.
atus would not make gus as cheap as
the Lowe improved process II may
he that you base your opinion upon the
results reached by those unskilled and
Nnsclcntiiic operators. or course II II
very easy matter for bunglers either
10 ditch the finest locomotive or run the
most magnificent ocean steamship on
the rocks. Such wrecks can readily be
caused either by accident or intention.
ally, and I leave you to decide what
was the object OF the gentlemen named
IN 10 tlitchlng' and 'wrecking' the
Rev apparatus, In the presence Of Oper.
ntOrs who could have corrected their
mistakes had they been permitted to
do so.
II have a very decided opinion that
the Rev process and apparatus II vastly
superior in construction, operation.
number Of men employed. the cost OF
gas In the holder, and cost Of repairs
when required. to the generators en-
plOycd ut the old plant.
II was In active business for many
years In those certain 'stOrm.centers'
Of business known as thu Albany, Buff
faiO and Chicago Boards Of Trade and
the New York and Chicago Stock En-
changes. In those places have had "a
learn repeatedly land to pay for my
education every tlme) that In many
cases men do not talk to express their
real convictions, but rather to conceal
their thoughts, In order to divert their
competitors from their real transac.
tiOns.
consequently what men say Is not
regarded as Of any particular value
unless they are prepared to back their
opinion with their money
II am prepared to back my opinion
concerning the capabilities Of the Rev
process wand apparatus with my life
my fortune and my sacred honor and
] therefore propose the following tests
Of both sets Of apparatus:
II will deposit $4,000 either In casl
or In marketable securities IN any
agreed. upon bank or trust company
Of Kansas City, you to deposit the
same for your company. or the United
Gas Improvement Company Of Phila
deiphia. Then we will give both sets
of apparatus 80 or 90 day trial, run
ming to their full capacity. to discover
the actual cost Of gus In the holder In
each case. II gas can be made cheaper
ut the old plant, you have the $40.
600. On the contrary, II gas can bt
made OF the same quality at the works
Of the Missouri Gas Company, my $40,
600 to he returned to me and your SO,
600 to be turned over to the hospitals
and charities at Kansas City, for dt
not care for your money. Possibly YOU
or the parties you represent may con
slider that you have "A sure thing. IL
that ease, ! should Ike quite willing II
make 1t $4,000 IN order to make II
very interesting not only for you but
for the Whole public throughout thu
vyutHnd atuxac