New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-27

lamps S11 each year There were 1856
public lamps and ninety-seven private lamps in
the city IN 1909. which cost SO so each for eight
months to light. In the summer of 1872 efforts
were made to substitute something better than
oil. with which the streets had been dirnly
lighted, and experiment was made with gas
light in the park Nothing definite resulted
however. though four years afterward. June
Is and November IS. 1916. long, learned and
favorable report on the subject Of gasight was
made by committee of the corporation" On
January y, 1917, another detailed report was
made in favor of lighting the city with gas, from
the trial made under the inspection of Dr. Hare
which cost S5.927 % Including 81. 400 for seven
months of his salary. The experiments were
made in old building near the east corner Of
the City Hall. and temporary tin pipes were
laid through Chathan-st. and Broadway far
as Dey-st, and few store windows lishted
up. The light was admired, but the city au-
thorities shrank from the expense of laying the
requisite iron pipes, etc, which it estimated
would cost for the whole city several hundred
thousand dollars" In April 1923. the corpora
ton granted TO the New-York Gas Company
the exclusive privilege for thirty years OF laying
castiron gas pipes in the streets south Of Grand
St, and reserved the privilege of using the gas
for the street lamps. on the same terms and cost
OIL On May IL. 1925. the company began
the proposed improvement by laying gas pipes
in Broadway, on both sides OF the street. from
CanaI-st- to the Battery. From these they were
gradually extended over the southern part OF
the island. though for years the city presented
a checkered appearance. with block dirnly
lighted by the ancient oil lamps and the next
brilliantly illuminated from the works OF the
new gas company In 1880 the improvement
was extended TO the northern part of the island
by the Incorporation Of the Manhattan Gas
Light Company, with a capital of 100000, for
the purpose OF supplying the upper part OF the
city not included within the limits Of the New
York Company.
When gas introduced into the city below
Canal-st. opposition arose to the innovation
Many Of the citizens were afraid TO have it in
their dwellings. All sorts of catastro-
Plies were predicted. Had it not been for the
sterling qualities possessed by Samuel Leggett
who introduced gas into his own residence in
Franklin Square. and invited the public to wit
ness the utility of the source OF light and
comfort. its introduction would have been de-
layed longer. Leggett originated and was presi-
dent of the first gas company in New-York in
| 1923.
IL would not be proper 20 leave this subject
without giving the opinion OF an authority on
/ the gas works as place OF interest an object
Of great Importance, and highly curious in all
/ its details"
The manner in which Broadway and many
| of the public buildings and shops in the p-in-
| cipaI streets are now lighted with gas says the
/ record OF 1929. "and the effect it has upon the
| eye of stranger is novel as it is crafty
/ ing and forms one Of the principal modern i'm
! provements. especially when contrasted with the
! first attempt at lighting the streets made by our
| ancestors in 1857.
The establishment for the making of gas is
one of the largest edifces in the city and is
| situated in Rhynder-st., corner OF Hester. near
| the east part of Canal-st. The gas, formed from
| oil, is conducted into the great reservoirs. or
| gasoIleters, which contain each 5000 barrels,
| and equal in size to large brewers vat.
| being so PAGES in circumference and 20 feet IN
| depth. The gas is measured by a curious ma
/ chine called meter, and passes out into all the
/ principal streets south Of Grand-st. through
pipes of cast iron, of various sizes from 6-inch
TO pinch bore. and by lateral pipes into the pri-
waite houses where the company pipes end. and
| the whole interior fitting is done at the expense
| Of the person using the gas. The company sup
plies the public with oil gas by the meter only.
| The charge for every cubic foot registered is
/ 81. The meter is a patent machine made I'm
London, and is sold or rented to each Gus
| toner. as they may prefer. the cost being from
/ SIC up according to size" For a ten light
meter in the old DAYS Al cents a quarter was
| charged; fifteen light. 621a cents; thirty light
! 81 80. Those purchasing meters from the COM
| pany kept them in repair at their own cost
| Here is a scale showing the comparative guam
! tity of light given out by each burner generally,
/ The one jet burner gave light equal 10 one
mould candle: the two jet burner . 1-12 mould
candles; the three 2-3. A ten hole argand
| gave light equal 10 ten mould candles And
here is an interesting end 10 the record: BY
| regulating the cock. the quantity OF light giver
out and consequently. the gas consumed by
each burner may be reduced at pleasure. The
comparative cost OF the oil gas light is consid-
erably less than the cost OF that produced from
mould candles or from oil lamps. But the clean.
lness the beauty and the convenience OF the ga.
over any other light is the principal cause o.
its being preferred. without reference TO ex
pense.''
In 1929 the company had laid fifteen miles O
castiron pipes in the principal business streets
/ The pipes were imported from England, ant
| were subjected 20 severe proof TO test thet
quality before being used"
Having wandered far afeld with the chronol
/ ogy. We will return TO April 20. 1875 wheE
Ricketts, Amphitheatre offered TO exhibit on.
evening for the benefit OF the poor. 10 purchas'
frewood, which was accepted by the corpora
ton and the sum OF $40 was collected on tbs
occasion" Bakers this year We're allowed .
profit OF u shillings on hundredweight O
flour. and the Powles Hook ferry was leased foi
ESQ year. Hoboken ferry was not so pros
porous. as II leased for f95 year
In the summer OF 17s5 John Jay. the newt,