Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-03-29

ilii'T tNt SUPER |l.ion OF SdInItl NieXS, an
expert engineer. who became connected
with the company early in 1873. when the
public had lost so much confidence IN ii
that a ten-poun1 share could scarcely find
a sale at two pounds.
Explosion Retards Advancement.
Nor was confidence restored by an az
plosion at the Westminster works in the
: sam. year. There was a vaui. near the
: gasmetrr in which the lime machine he
longing to the apparatus was contained"
SAID Mr.. Clegg. In reporting the explosion
IN: workmen IN letting the limo water
out Of the vessel removed t.o great a
quantity OF II. and allowed the gas to
escape at the valvc. where the linz. water
was drawn off into the vault. Wh"ra thu
light originated l am not prepared to
STATE: whether from some person corning
In with a candle or by a communication
from the fiue OF the retorts there was 4
connection Of that k!nd-I cannot say. The
effect of it WAS that 4, blew my hat on my
head and destroyed H.. ard blew IL TO
pieces. and knocked down two nine-inch
walls. and injured me very much at the
time. and burnt all the skin of my face,
and the hair of my head. and I was laid
up u fortnight or three weeks by II. I vas
III" only one hurt on the premises
IN" directors and proprietors of the
company, however. were not shaken in
their opinion that the new iii,iminant
would mako their fortunes In time, so they
continued their preparatory operations in
spite on numerous disc-ouragenents. Grad
uaIiy public confidence In the scheme was
restored. a new company, known as the
CITY OF London Gaslight company. was
formed. and at last the original company
succeeded in extending Its main from one
OF It's stations to the hear; OF he city.
IN" feat was duly celebrated. The direc-
tcrs and nroprtetors gathered at the New
London tavern for congratula lions and .
'"asf. and there was a splendid. not to say
aw"-!nspiring gas hight Illumination of the
host"lry that led to many orders being
placed with the company during the en-
suing few weeks.
rms event marked the turning point In
the history of the company and gas light
ing. Soothing ceased: prejudice gave way:
people became eager to reap the proved
economical advantages OF the new light.
Prosperous days dawned at last for Mr..
"insct and his poorer associates, though
they came too late TO let them realize the
great fortunes that should have been
theirs by right OF works and faith.
Quality 10 Improved.
The next few years We're devoted To- Inn
proving the quality of the gas, the method
of production. the machinery, etc. 1t was
IN 1916 that Mr.. Clcgg hit upon the idea
OF and made the interior meter. "The part
forming the interior consisted OF a hollow
wheel or drum. which was accurately d.
Nidsd into several compartments Thu
wheel moved upon a hollow axis. and was
inclosed in an alright case. which was a
little larger than Itself. Both the outer
cas-. and tho lower chamber OF tho wheel
We're filled with water rather higher than
tho axis. and each compartment had two
aperturcs. one for admitting the gas 20
enter II and the other for the passage out.
W h"n the gas was entering into any one
compartment it's outlet orifice was below
tire surface of the water. while the ad-
joining chamber had It's outlet aperture
ahoN" the water. and. of course. was dis
charging The gas to pass in the burners.
Thus. by the combined effect of the alter
mite and successive filling and emptyins
81 TN" respective compartments the wheel
Wa mad. to r%evolvc. AS its axis was
connected with the communicated motion
|" a series Of wheel work. which registered
is vN.olution. the exact quantity Of gas
that passed Through thc meter was ascer-
tanned. aud the number of cubic feet was
shown by IN index and dial plate" Prior
20 tho invention Of the meter gas was
soil by the burner and the hour.
MIR. clegg was with the company four
years. When he left it three stations were
manufacturing 100000 cubic feet OF
gas daily. When the company
started furnishing gas 1t had but
on. gasoneter OF 400 cubic feet
ranacity. That was in 1874. Eight
gears later its annual consumption OF gas
was as. cN,. 800 cubic feet. it had l22 miles Of
mains and fed ~. 735 lamps. while the four
leading companies OF London had AZ gaso-
meters. with a capacity of eli. $40 cubic
feet. their annual output OF gas was 397.-
cI,.no cubic feet. and they supplied 81 ,2S
! private and 7.26S pubic lamps.
Forming First Companies.
Nith'n the next half decade gas compa-
mics were formed IN many of the cities
and towns of the island: the Birmingham
Gas orpan came Into being In 1895, and
In the same year New Works first gas
company was formed. The initial gas
company in this country was in Baltimore.
antecating the New York company but a
short while. Boston xot gas in 1928. and
until Philadelphia welcomed the new IL
iuininant In 1884 these were the only places
IN America with gas plants.
Hut gas did mt como to America with
~; difficulties to overcome. 1t was OBJ
jectcd TO Oh all .ides-by candle and oil
dealers and other special interests. by con-
s'rvat.ves. by those whose ignorance OF
the new illuininant led them to fear that
fires would be- moro numerous than ever,
and % on.
S"cauae OF the genuine ard simulated
fear and prejudice against gas the Phila-
d.lphii councils spent several years inves-
;,aatins the subject OF gas manufs cture.
r.uropean plants were inspected. those
clos: at home were studied. and the may
"rs and tn" tire insurance companies OF
III" tire. American cities with gas plants |
were asked for their opinions Of tho new
illam.rtnt and its effect in various dIrec- !
tons.
Gideon Lee WIS then mayor ef New
YORK. In reply to the latter sent him.
AFTER stating that no increase in the mum.
ber OF fires had been noted since the In.
troc.ct'en OF gas. and giving full answers
TO the other questions. he ~adIed-with a
bit OF pride. no doubt-that all the the
ate-s within the gas belt (thc company
was not permitted by It's charter to OBJ
crate above Canal streeU nine churches
and session rooms. the custom house. the
postoftce. the principal hotels and such
places az libraries and ball rooms and
bankers Offices were lighted by gas.
Eight years after the first attemp. was
made to get gas In the Quaker city the
councils authorized Its Introduction After
that other cities took up the idea. Ca.
soon conquered America. and today ,sr,t
that couatryman rare who 10 90 isnoran
of the properties OF the illuminant that ma
blows 1t out before jumping into bod .hs
arst night of his visit in a city?
Freneh Railroads Controlled.
In France nearly all the railroads.
are owned by private corporations"
says Charles Edward Russell in .Soi.
diers OF the Common Good" In IN.
March Everybody's.