Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-10
ANNUAL MEETING sOF THE AMERI-
CAN GASLIGHT ASSOCIATION.
Address of President George G. RAMS
dell.

Address of President George G. RAMS
dell.
At the twenty-ninth annual meeting of the
American Gaslight Association, recently
held at Denver, Col, President George G.
Ramsdell made an address which is of
great public interest
Among other things, he said:
I'VE meet at a peculiar time, being al
most the end of the nineteenth and on the
threshold of the twentieth century-a flu
ture period. whose possibilities we can only
conjecture. When we consider the marvel
Gus advances made in our industry during
the past decade, We are prepared to expect
wonderful things. l believe the first con-
tract for street lighting with gas In
TINS country was made by the city
OF New York in 1923 But the gas
business was small indeed at that dis
tant period, and it was not until nearly
half a century had passed that the bust
ness assumed any Importance. From then
until now the business has steadily grown,
until 1t has become one of the most stable
and important. Its growth in volume, in
improved appliances, in economy of manu-
facture and in diversity of use during the
past ten years has been indeed phenomenal,
ana II To-Day survives after numerous con-
tests or the utmost severity with opponents
who, In the gladiatorial arena, would have
been ciassed as giants.
1.-THE first international gas congress after
months of anticipation and preparation, has
pas sed into history. 1t is probably too soon
to fully estimate its results. That 1t was
a success we can safely say, and in my
Judgment the measure of success surpassed
the expectation of Its Warmest advocates.
Being the first attempt at such meeting,
there were no precedents to guide its orig
majors, and therefore the greatest credit
Is due to those whose foresight and wisdom
brought such magnificent results There
was a large attendance, thoroughly repre-
sentative in character, and intensely inter-
ested in the topics under considera ton.
Even the matter of language did not inter-
fere as greatly as was anticipated. Most
of the papers and discussions were in
French, but any member was at liberty to
express himself in his own tongue.
In the matter of lighting, I think it is
within bounds to say that the exhibition of
lighting on the Champ-de- Mars is the finest
ever given. The Champde- Mars Is vast
esplanade in the center of the grounds, and
of such ample dimensions as to afford
magnificent opportunity. There were arc
and incandescent electric lights, which were
distinctly eclipsed by the magnificent dis
play of incandescent gas lighting through
the Denayrouze and Bandsept burners, part
of them intensified by pressure plant To-
Gated on the grounds. There were 1876
mantles, burned under a pressure of 200
millimeters in Bandsept burners. giving 3d.,
600 carcels of light The average duration
of the mantles was forty-two days; those
in the lamps burning under normal press
ure about equal in number) being about
the same The total light was ~ times
greater than when the same space was
lighted by electricity at the former exposi-
ton, eleven years ago:
Nothing impresses Il gasman more in a
journey abroad than the well-nigh universal
use of ircandescent gas lighting. This Is
particularly true of Germany. where it is
said that over 80 per cent of all gas lighting
is on the incandescent system, and l can
very readily believe this statement as il
Only confirms my own observation. Almost
all street lighting and nearly all indoor
lighting that one sees is Of this type and
of very superior quality. The gas compa-
mes give far more attention to the burners
than Is our custom, and it evidently pays to
do so. | have seen no streets better lighted,
and few as well, as the general run of them
IN Germany, and this I'm verSai use OF inCan-
descent burners has produced a marked
effect upon the entire gas industry. Candle
power has become, or at least is fast be-
coming, Il secondary consideration, and al
ready. III many works, more importance IL
attached 10 the testing of gas for its heating
qualities than for candle power. 1t was
matter of note that in the works visited
the candle power of the gas was an unim
pOrtant factor. 1t requires no stretch of
the imagination to anticipate time when
the photometer will be second in Importance
and the calorimeter first. This condition
has led the gas engineers, in the renewal of
all public contracts to secure the same
upon such basis as will enable them easily
to obtain The necessary candle power direct
from the coal most economical for them to
use. It is therefore not uncommon (e.ipe
cially in Germany to find street lighting
contracts or contracts with cities specify
ing a power of thirteen to fourteen candles,
measured by the Hefner unit, which, being
only 0S77 of an English standard candle,
Is equivalent to less than tWelve-candle
power, as measured in England.
"One OF the prime factors in the liberal use
OF incandescent lights is undoubtedly their
cheapness. There are no patents on mean
descent lighting in Germany. Hence a
customer can purchase over the counter
the best burner in the market, complete
with the best mantle. Jena chimney, reilec-
tor top, fixed for 81 of money, and
other burners, similarly equipped for as low
as 30 cents. After the first purchase, in
most of the cities, the gas company there
after maintains the light. sending out new
nantes, with new chmneys ready to slip
on in place of the old one. at a charge of
u cents in our money. This same outfit
can be purchased over the counter for about
cents or 8 cents but the difference is SO
small that few avail themselves Of it, but
allow the companv's agent to make the re-
newal thus securing at all times the great
est efficiency Of their lights"