Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12

From Prof. Ramsdells Address at the annual meet
ing OF the American Gas Light Association.
I am informed that the German CONT
mental Gas Company, operating large
number Of gas works, which give abundant
evidence of superb management besides
other extremely liberal plans, have obtain
ed large numbers of new consumers by pro-
viding slot prepayment meters, using
the 10 pr piece, equivalent to about 2h
cents Of our money. The only requirement
of the consumer is to sign a paper ac-
knowledging the installation to be the gas
company's property, which Is countersigned
by the landlord if in a rented building
AS 10 pr. worth of gas will keep an ordi-
nary incandescent burner going for five
hours, this plan has proved very popular,
resulting in large volume Of new business.
one feature Of store window lighting forci-
bly, impressed me- both for number in use
and for quality. 1t consisted of single or
double row of incandescent gas lights on
plain Iron pipes stretched across the win
dow quite well toward the top. On a single
one-inch pipe there would be placed six,
eight, ten or more Of these lights, with a
porcelain shade, with nickel trimmings,
which not only gave a handsome appear
and being located far above the sight line,
gave a pleasing effect. l believe this is
called the Ramp system, and 1t is not
only effective, but, Judging from it's large
use. quite popular. 1t struck me that we
were behind our friends on the other side
in incandescent lighting. not so much in
the quality of the burner itself as in the
more effective way the burners were oper-
ated through the better care given them
and consequent uniformity; and while we
ar, constantly extending their use, they
are far In the lead as to numbers. But this
state of affairs is most encouraging for u.s.
we can readily see that the same condi-
lions will sooner or later prevail here. AL
ready with us incandescent gas lighting for
streets has become a factor of no mean
proportions. =" If we were asked today to
whom, as gas purveyors, we are most in
debted for our present healthful business
condition. I think that we would all, with
one accord, answer: 1.-The inventor Of the
Welsbach light" Launched at a time when
gas investment was In it's most uncertain
period; when the advent Of the electric
light was proclaimed with such blare of
trumpets as to alarm the large majority Of
stockholders and challenge the faith Of the
strongest friends Of the gas business. the
Welsbach light entered upon its battle for
supremacy comparatively unheralded and
with an utter lack of all theatrical fea-
lures. Unfortunately, it did not spring into
instant success; and fortunately, it did not
sink into utter failure. Unlike the majority
of inventions, the light was not the result
of chance, but the outcome of the profound
knowledge by the inventor of his subject,
combined with that superior quality we call
genius, which is the embodiment of
comparative failure for several years diff
ficultes were gradually overcome and in
creased efficiency slowly but surely attain
ed until today, at home abroad, it I'M
dOubtedly stands as the greatest contrib
utor to our present defensive strength and
the strongest weapon we have ever pos
sessed for aggressive warfare. /