Evening star., 1900-10-27
Interesting Novelties Now on Exhibi-
tion in Paris.
GAS MADE BY DISINTEGRATING AIR
Inventions That Promise Great
Things for the Future.
G II E A P ER AND BETTE r



PARIS. October II, 1900
Undoubtedly one of the most remarka BILE
features of the Paris exhibition has been
the multiplicity of curious and novel sys-
TENS for producing light. In electricity the
extraordinary electric lamp that must be
lighted with a match proved one of the
triumphs Of the German section. In gas
lighting the portable boxes of a Paris COM
pany have already found their way into
general use. Acetylene astonshes the Wis
itor by its white effulgence all along the
Seine, between the new bridge and the
Street Of Nations. The powerful new Amer
lean petroleum lamps just set upon the Quai
des Tuilleries show that old-fashioned coal
oii' is still to be heard from. In the ex-
hibitfon grounds and on the Paris Boule-
ward the alcohol lamps with incandescent
gas burners compete with the electric
light. More curious still and full of a
vague promise are the mysterious physio-
logical and luminous metallic lamps. Fin
ally, the scientists and capitalists OF Paris
are whispering together over sonnet hing in
the municipal and housekeeping line that
is absolutely sensational The discovery or
invention contemplates the disntegraton
at the burner of common air, pumped
through the mains-air that costs no.nlng
but the pumping. The great question is
which is to be the cheapest and the best.
! or may not have to go into liquidation-in
any case, the honest citizen may hope at
last to come into his own at no distant
date.
1 first noticed the fountains of this
company at the exhibition, but they are
now doing business on the Rue Auber, be-
side the Grand Opera. 1t is in the full
tourist quarter, and / fancy there have
been few Americans in Paris this summer
who have not stood In admiration before
the simpe-looking device displayed in those
show windows by which the suburbante
and the farmer equally with the dweller
in cities may enjoy gas lighting all over his
house.
Gas Fountains.
These gas fountains-using the word in
the French sense-are long, narrow met al
boxes standing upright, of solid construc-
ton, to hold compressed Illuminating gas,
that by means of rubber tubes is led to in
| candescent burners by way Of movable
| lamps like those that stand on center tables
in America. This is the story of the 'foun-
| tains;" but, simple as it Is, how is 1t that
| no one thought of 1T before?
The gas boxes, sold to the consumer at
| So each, require only to be taken home and
| set UP on shelves. Three form the regula-
| ton battery for moderate-sized house.
| lighting the three rooms which the French
| light brilliantly, the dining ROOM the ante
| chamber and the kitchen. You will not
| often find gas burners In French bed rooms,
| candles being considered the correct thing.
| The company asserts there is no other in
| stallation of gas that can be made SO
| cheaply and readily.
"One of these bidons, or gas boxes, rep
| resents a provision Of about 1O0O-cande
| hours" declared the clerk who showed me
| around the place, which means 10 candles
during 100 hours, or 20 candles during 81
| hours and so on. This burner'-indicatin ting
| a brillian incandescent affair-"gives about
| 2O-candle light
| Then two large burners like that would
/ use up a bidon in twenty-five hours?'
| suggested.
Yes" he replied, but you must remem-
| ber that you turn the light off and on, turn
| II down low perhaps do not use one burner
| all the evening. There is no doubt-be-
| cause the matter is of the first Importance
! and has to be demonstrated to every new
| client-that this gas comes to the consumer
! as cheaply as any other in Paris, and out
side of Paris cheaper. When your first
| pidons are empty we exchange them for
| full ones at a dollar apiece. You can make
| the calculation for yourself, comparing ours
with the gas you are now using"
| For Use In Automobiles.
One of the most interesting applications
Of this compressed gas is that now being
| experimental with by Paris automobilists.
The petroleum motors of automobiles oper-
ate, of course, by gas explosions, the gas
being produced as needed from the essence
which has to be carried in bulk. The bal