Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-06-03
ELECTRICITY VERSUS GAS.
The IneandeBcOnt Burner a Success 1
Manchester, England.

The IneandeScOnt Burner a Success in
Manchester, England.
The details of a paper recently read
before an association of students of
civil engineering in Manchester, Eng
land, by Mr.. Newbigging, chief engi-
neer of the municipality owned gas
works, are given to the Department of
Commerce and Labor by Marshal Hal
stead, United States Consul at Birming-
of the incandescent gas burner had
given a new lease of life to gas under
takings, and had placed gas in the
front position as the cheapest illumi-
nant. While he did not deny that, for
decorative effects, electricity had adj
recent Introduction of the inverted in
candescent gas burner babe fair to
rival the present incandescent electric
light. Having made the statement that
electricity, light for light at Manchester
prices, is eight times dearer than gas,
he said an incandescent gas burner de-
velops, per cubic foot of gag consumed,
from fifteen to forty candles, according
to the system employed. With gas at
fifty-slx cents per 1000 cubic feet and
electricity at 7.72 cents per unit, av-
erage prices in Manchester, and taking
the lowest power developed by the in
candescent gas burner, viz, fifteen can
dies per cubic foot, $4,000 candles per
1000 cubic feet, the cost would be 3.72
cents for 1000 candles, while one unit
of electricity developed in IAN mean
descent burner" a light equal to 256
candles each at 7,72 cents per unit, or
1910 cents per 1000 candles. The Man
chester gas works intends to establish
a new department to deal not only with
the maintenance of consumers mean
descent burners, but TO assist in devel-
Oping the greatest amount Of light from
the gas consumed. There has been
very great prejudice in England against
the use Of carbureted water gas, the
kind in most extensive use in the
United States. After describing the
manufacture of coal gas and Of car
bureted water gas, Mr.. Newbigging
said that in regard TO the latter much
unwarrantable public agitation had
been directed against its distribution in
England. AS q matter Of fact, car
bureted water gas was purer than coal
gas, and had the same characteristic
OdOr. 1t has been manufactured in
Manchester for the past seven years,
and there has not been a single acct
dent caused through its use.
At recent meeting Of the Gas Light
and Coke Company, Of London, the
governor Of the "Court of Directors"
showed how gas burners can now be
manipulated as easily as electric lights.
He pressed button on his desk and
two incandescent gas burners high up
on the wall of the room were lighted
up; he pressed the button again and the
lights were extingulshed. This device
is a simple one, and is a Swiss inven-
ton. With an incandescent burner
there is "pilot light" that is, a tiny
light through bypath, so that when
the gas is turned full 1t will be lighted.
Where the key on n gas burner would
a AlbliO DAolOh DlhNGus
this piston having an opening corre-
spending TO the openings in the fixture
and the burner. When the piston is
forward the gas has communication
with the burner and is lighted by the
pilot light, and when the piston is in
the other position the gas is shut off,
with the exception of a small quantity
for the pilot light. The piston is OPP
Grated pneumatleally, small copper
tube about the size of telegraph wire
running from the gas fixture, say, to a
point near the door of room, so a per-
son entering the room can press in
the plunger, which is at the end of the
tube, thus COMPRISING the air and driv-
ing the piston at the fixture into the
gas-openlng position.