The San Francisco call., 1906-11-11

When the coal is suflciently heated the
blast is discontinued, and steam turned
In on this mass of coal forms what is
called water gas. This gas is rich in
heat units, but very low in candle
power. The gas is then passed through
what is known as a carburetter, an
other steel shell lined with fire brick.
where oil is introduced, and. being
broken up, associates itself with the
water gas and forms oil gas. This is
scrubbed, washed and purified in much
the same manner as coal gas.
In 1893 this process was supplement-
ed in California by oil gas, an inven-
tion Of the son of Professor T. S c.
Lowe, Leon P. Lowe. and is now the
universal method OF manufacturing gas
on this coast But even at the present
time the method of measurement of
gas by the meters in vogue has not ma
terially changed within the last 100
years. nor has the system of street
mains through which the gas is con-
veyed underground been altered, with
the exception of the Introduction with
in the last few years of what is known
as high-pressure distribution, where
for the sake of economy in the laying
of pipe. gas under high pressure is de-
livered to certain points and again dis
tributed by means of governors under
low pressure.
First Electric Light Plant.
The introduction of electric lighting
on commercial basis was made in the
year 1879 in St Joseph. Mo- where
the first arc lighting plant ever estab-
lished in America was installed. Year
by year improvements in the appIica-
tion OF electricity for light and power
purposes have been made, until today
the brilliant effects produced in stores
misunderstanding night into days
an evidence of the great strides that
have been made by the inventive
geniuses of this and other countries.
The complexities of the systems of
electric lighting in their many phases
present too deep a subject for the col
umns of the daily press The consum-
ers know the results-they know moth
ing of the path OF this mystic current
from the snowfields of the Sierras
through devious . water channels,
bitches. fumes. reservoirs. pipelines,
power-houses and over miles of spider
like web of wires to every part of this
State; the Transforming from a harm
less current to powerful one by
means of transformers; it's distribution
underground and overhead. its meas
urement by intricate machinery and
final distribution under low pressure to
the several burners in the house, where,
by a touch OF the hand, darkness is
dispelled
The sudden growth of this industry
has not given time for a full considera-
tion of the effects produced in lighting.
nor for study of the best results to be
obtained therefrom.
Within the past year a ma gazine,
The Illuminating Engineer. has made
it's appearance In New York and is do
ing much TO fill a long felt want in the
the architect, decorator, gas fixture
salesman and others interested helpful
suggestions well as giving the result
OF scientific experiments and enabling
them to lay out a lighting scheme much
more intelligently by showing the re-
suit of various types of illuminants un-
der stated conditions. 1t is also en-
couraging to note the fact that few
men have taken up the practice Of IL
Eliminating engineering and are pre-
pared to give US the benefit of their re-
search. Our Eastern friends are begin
ming to realize the Importance OF the
subject and will profit by the employ
ment of those men from an economical
standpoint, to say nothing of the pleas
ure OF having properly lighted stores,
Offices and homes
The Illuminating Engineer.
The sphere Of the illuminating engi-
neer is very broad and includes not
only the estimating of the candle units
necessary to light given space, but
also defines the position, efficiency and
number of outlets. position and number
Of switches. kind and character of
lights. as well as the type of lighting
fixture and it's relation to the other
interior decorations. / say other. as 1t
should be an ornament rather than
ugly necessity. IT is this feature of
the subject 1 should like to lay partic-
ular stress on.
The first gas fixtures were pieces Of
pipe bent in the shape of a IT. with
no thought OF beauty. A little later
we note the addition Of applied orna-
ments to dress them up" IS 1t were.
After this the pipes were incased In
brass tubes and later, at the introduc-
tion of electricity, the wires were. fas-
tened to the exterior of the fixture. and
today we have the combination gas and
electric wires concealed But at the
introduction of the incandescent gas
light an obstacle presented itself as
FAR as the beautification of the fixture
was concerned. on account of the ugli-
ness OF the porcelain rejecting shade.
This fact is self-evident today, but
gradually It is being corrected by the
Introduction Of the "Bunsen Fixture"
a chandelier made expressly for incan-
descent gas lighting. obviating the use
of what has heretofore been consid-