The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-07-15
THE ATLANTIC INN BRILLIANTLY
LIGHTED LAST NIGHT
Gfeschen Brothers Have Installed
an Aurora Acetylene Gas Outfit I'm
Their Embellishments at Front and
Red Cross Streets-A Flood of Light
Was Turned on From Fifty Jets
an Many People Went Down to
See the PrOceSs-Benufifu Mellow
Light.

Last night at the Atlantic Inn OF
Giesehen Bros, at Front and Red Cross
streets, We were shown new light that
is both attractive and interesting. The
Aurora AcetyIene Company, of Chatta-
nooga, Tenn, has just installed an. in
dividual fifty light plant for them and
last night the lights were turned on for
the first time.
The Atlantic Inn is a handsome four
story building with Philadelphia pressed
brick front and contains twenty rooms.
exclusive of the saloon and cafe and
dining room on the first floor. The es-
tablishment was brilliantly lighted last
night and many persons interested went
down to see the new process
The lights were surprisingly beauti-
full, and the Messrs. Gieschen were
smiling with satisfaction at the success
full demonstration of acetylene gas as
an ilIuminant. The saloon and safe
were lighted with sixteen jets, and the
proprietors say they had more light
than they formerly had from the same
number Of ordinary gas burners supple
mented by four incandescent electric
lights. The lights were white, soft and
beautiful, and astonishingly brought
out the colors of the wall decorations.
All the colors of the wall paper were
brought out naturally, and it was a
practical demonstration of the
claim that these are the only lights
which bring out the real cOlorS of rib
bons and silks at night.
The generator which furnishes the
light is on the outside at the rear of the
building and only occupies a space Of
AIrNElS-
for ordinary gas, run from it into the
building. The generator is a galvanized
sheet iron tank, containing a drum, a
calcium carbide chamber and gas
chamber. The drum sits in water, and
from the calcium carbide chamber cal
cium carbide is automatically dropped
into the water. Its contact with the
water causes it to go off into gas that
rises to the gas chamber. The gas then
goes through a filter and then out the
service pipes ready for use.
For some years scientists have been
operating with more or less success
with calcium carbide in the attempt to
reduce it to a perfect, safe and econ
omic article for Illumination purposes.
It only differs from common building
lime in that it is calcium carbide in
tead of calcium oxide, but like the oxide
it only needs to be mixed with water to
be of the utmost service to mankind.
The trouble has been to secure or devise
a machine by which, through automatic
arrangement, yet simple, the two and
only necessary articles, water and car
bide, can be brought together and in
such small quantities at time that
the most economic use of the carbide
will give off the greatest quantity OF
gas, which is called acetylene gas.
1t is claimed and guaranteed by the
manufa cturerS of the Aurora Acetylene
Company that acetylene carbide used
in the Aurora" generator will give four
to five times the amount of light bur-
ner for burner. than either electric
light or gas. 1t is also about half the
cost in operation of the ordinary jumbo
oil lamp, kerosene lamps, city gas or
electricity. 1t has no mantleS to break,
no machinery to get out of order or re-
quire attention. The generator can be
charged by any one in about eight or
ten minutes. is perfectly safe and its
use is permitted by the insurance COM
panies. All that is necessary is to turn
on the burner as with city gas and ap-
ply the match, whereupOn a perfect,
steady, powerful white light is the re-
suit. 1t is demonstrated that colorS.
flowers, and complexion, which is sure
to be distorted by either form of light
ing now in use are easily discerned in
the new sunlight. Its spectrum is the
same as sunlight. The demonstration
last night was in every way satlsfac-
tory and must be seen to be appreclat-
ed. Its advent into Wilmington will be
hailed with delight.
The utmost safety of the process is
one of it's main features. Gas is only
generated as it is being used and conse-
Quently none is stored. By an auto
matte arrangement gas is only made for
one burner at a time or for as many
jets as are turned on. When the lights
are turned out the making of gas stops
immediately and the process is only
renewed when the lights are turned on
again. There is nothing to get out Of
order and anybody can operate the
plant The generator is self-cleaning
and the gas does not gum or clog the
pipes and burners. The light burns
steadily and there is no flicker to de-
stroy it's absolute effectiveness.
Mr. Thomas E. Veal, representative
of the Aurora Acetylene Company. is
here introducing the new light, and has
made arrangements with MeSSrs. G. G..
Brown and w. L. Latta to handle it in
Wilmington and the surrounding section