Evening star., 1907-11-05
FUTURE OF GAS LIGHTING.
Growth Of Electricity as an Illumi
nant-Matter of Cost.

ieSS. pfophecleS Still continue to be made
| for the reason that they are always ex-
Iceedingly interesting to the prophet and
occasionally contain some germs OF
thought that are worthy of cultivation.
The occasion of the meeting of the Gas
institute. following the hundredth ami
| versary of the Introduction of gas as a
commercial luminant. naturally inspires
the inquiry. What will the next hundred
years develop in gas lighting?"
Inc Introduction of illuminating gas
marked the definite close of the dark ages
literally speaking. Previous to this period
tnere was no public lighting which could
justly be called illumination The prog
tess that has been made within the CEN
ss sufs IN the production and use of arti-
Hclal light Is fair measure of the gen
eral progress in science and art during
me same period-a progress that has been
so rapid that 1t has created a new heaven
ana new earth. Amid all the wonders
or modern life it Is doubtful If any single
lone would more profoundly impress our
ancestors of a hundred years ago. could
| they assume their physical bodies again.
man our present lavish use of light. both
pupfic ana private. To say that the next
hundred years will witness as great an
Improvement in this respect is an easy
ana perhaps safe prophesy: but to CON
ceive what illumination will be when de-
Feioped to such an extent would tax the
most fertile imagination.
| But to leave this purely sDeculat five
view and return to matters that more
| cioseiy anect us: What is to be the posi-
ton of gas illumination in the near
future?
Cnquestionably gas lighting is beine
driven to the wall in this country by the
electric light. The reason for this must
De sought In the conditions which at pres
ent govern the financial world rather
tnan IN the relative merits of gas and
| IplecfTir
more than holds its own in Great Britain
ana france, and Is fully holding its own
IN other parts Of Europe; and this cannot
De attributed to any lack of appreciation
OF GOOD Illumination on the part Of Euro
peans. The simple fact Is, that in this
country we have fulfilled almost to the
limit the truth so admirably expressed by
the great English engineer. Stevenson.
that where combination is possible COM
petition is impossible" Certainly nothing
Is more possible than the combination Of
gas and electric interests: and where this
combination has taken place economic
conditions favor the largest possible use
OF electric current for lighting with a
/ gas lighting. The average American is
too busy to argue and investigate minor
matters, and IN such cases takes what is
offered him. especially if 1t has the ad-
vantage of requiring less personal care
and attention: and with the advantage of
| convenience. skiilfully presented. and the
advantage Of cheapness possessed by gas
passed over in silence. the acceptance of
the newer lumfnant is a foregone concu-
sion. The advantage of cheapness how
ever. Is one that cannot be wholly
damned. even by the faintest praise: and
Notwithstanding the recent remarkable
improvements in efficiency in electric
lamps. this advantage with gas seems
less marked degree.
BY relying solely on the advantage of
cheapness. gas has been forced into the
position of a second-class luminant and
this fact in itself Is the most serious OBJ
stacle to its future progress.
To brand commodity as cheap is to
queer it In the eyes of the average
American. As a matter of fact. there is
scarcely a single case of electric light
ing in which equally good results. so far
as illumination goes, could not be pro-
duced by gas. and in most cases at far
less cost: but to light with gas is to use
Cheap" luminant and the American
will have none of 1t. For this condition
of affairs those responsible for the man
agement of the gas industries are to
considerable extent to blame. They have
rested eomplacently on their oars. relying
on the very great advantage in price to
carry them along: while the electric in
terests have set full sail to catch the
winds of popular fancy for more pleas
ing effects. and have thereby left their
brethren of the gasometer as hopelessy
u1dFOOneQ as the ancient Mariner TO
such an extent has electric lighting sur
passed gas lighting in this particular that
1t Is doubtful II the latter can ever over
come the handicap.
1t would be interesting and highly in
structive to see what could be done to-
ward rehabiitating gas as a irst-class
lumtnant by the application of the same
quality of energy. progressiveness origi-
nahty and perseverance, in presenting it's
possibilities to the public that is dis
aIo hyy hn trpfN
tions There are still a considerable
number Of towns in which the gas and
electric interests are independent and
each Of these offers an opportunity for
such trial and incidentally for the sue
eessful leader to gain national distinc-
ton In the Illuminating industry. Unless
such an effort Is made more or less gen
orally. there seems to be no other pros
pect for gas lighting than to gradually
Jose ground until it becomes mere relic
Ike the candle of the present time.
The manufacturers Of gas burners and
accessories are not in the least to blame
for this decadence in the use of gas light
ing. The incandescent electric lamp.
which has been the backbone of the cleo
tric lighting industry. and the Welsbach
gas burner were introduced simultane-
ously: and in the twenty-five years since
their introduction the improvements in
gas burners and mantles have at least
kept pace with the improvements that
we're made in the electric lamp.
The fact that an entirely new luminant.
the very principles of which were a mys
terry. even to those most familiar with 1t:
the means of producing which had to be
developed from the most rudimentary
principles: which was from two to five
times as expensive as gas; and which had
vested interests Of millions of dollars.
with an organization that had been es-
tab.ished for fifty years. to combat has
within twenty-five years established for
itself an unquestionable supremacy in the
lighting industry. is a remarkable phe
nomenon. and one which is worthy of
close study.
One of the most important if not the
most important, factor in this revolution
Is set forth by Mr.. Pearce in his enter |
tanning "Reminiscences" At the very out
set the electrical interests secured the
very highest degree of talent which
money could purchase. for improving
lighting fixtures and lighting installations.
Although not given the name this was in
reality the first effort In the line of illu |
minating engineering.
The truth Of the matter is that the gas |
interests were overconfdent and while |
they were belittling the electric light in |
spirit of self-complacency. the electrical
interests looked into the future, foresaw |
its possibilities. and while the enemy was |
asleep executed a flank movement which |
soon put them in the lead. Unless better |
is shown by the gas interests. |
so far as lighting is concerned, they are
destined to dwindle into a mere hoard of