Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-02-19
Luray Town Lighting by Acety-
lene Gas.

We paid visit recently To the pretty little
town of Luray, in Page county, with a view
OF narrating 10 our readers the wonderful
illumination that has come to stay in that
happy town, filling their streets with light
their homes with brightness. their stores
with customers, and their churches with
night worshippers.
We allude to the public and private light
ing with the gas called Acetylene, which is
manufactured at the plant put in by Mr..
Frank E. Slower, of Luray
IL does Mr.. Stnver vast credit that he has
pushed his enterprise through in the face of
Indifference and opposition such as would
have stopped man who had not the cour-
aye of his convictions Though a young
man. he had had many years of experience
in the manufacturing centers Of the West
and North, and he knew that he had found
a system of lighting that would not pass
away in generation to be replaced by some
other system. We heard the citizens of
Luray speak of Mr.. Slower with the greatest
enthusiasm as having really wonderful
mechanical geaius. This may he of intes, $,
to our readers as Mr. Slower has the con-
tract to put IN the Battle Town plant to bc
owned by Mr.. Herbert Warde.
We were met at the station on arrival bv
an old friend. Mr.. Norman Smith, now a
resident of Luray, who took us down To hi
IN urance office. He told us. besides many
other things of interest. that the board of
underwriters of the insurance companies
had sent deputation a. Luray to examine
the new method of lighting, to see whether
1t effects Their policies.
He said that the board had expressed its
entire approval and endorsement of acetv-
lene lighting of buildings in Luray.
Some of the street lamps were then
pointed out to us, so unObtrusive in appear
ance that we had not noticed them before.
although the lamps are suspended on an
arm twelve feet out from the curb and high
enough for a wagon loaded with hay to pass
beneath.
Mr.. Slower arrived about this time, and,
after answering some questions which were
put to him on behalf of the citizens of Der.
ryvil'e, he took us out To see his plant. As
we were passing by. he unlocked a chain
from lamp post and let down the arm till
the lamp at the end was right i'm front of our
faces, when he struck match and lighted
up Then it was a simple matter to pull the
arm up ia place again, anc hitch the chain
to the hook.
Mr.. Stover's ges plant is located right IN
the heart of the town. an within a stones
throw of the beautiful new Methodist
Church. There was no perceptible odor
around it, though the day was perfectly
calm. On entering. we were satisfied after
"a few words Of explanation. that there is no
danger of explosion. Mr.. Slower does not
permit any fire or light inside his plant AS
he says, You might carry light around
the gas-holder for twenty years. without
anything happening; but it is better to feel
that you are absolutely safe" Nobody need
be IN or around the plant after dark as aii
the gas needed for the night, with arge
margin over, is stored away in the gas holder
during the morning, SO that Mr.. Stoyer is
able 10 go to bed without anxiety, knowing
that there is plenty Of gas ready for every