New-York tribune., 1911-11-29
Gas liaht Grows Apaoe.


Anthrac cite coal and petroleum. hcth
plentiful and cheap, were the sources ~
supply. In 1871 Jessie Du Motay built in
this city the first apparatus for thA manu-
facture Of oxygen gas. In 1873 csrbonats1
water gas was made and put on the mar
ket This was. and still is. the princps
source Of gas illumination i'm this city AMI
in the United States.
Newspaper reporters before the war had
many a story TO write about the hired eir
who was burned 10 death trying 10 urge
a fire in the kitchen stove with the aid OF
Kerosene After the war the man Wno
blew out the gas" began 10 appear. lu
the daily columns Of fatal accidents Al
this was soon to disappear Electricity
that strange. subtle, clean and wonderful
fluid. was TO slther into general use IN
heralded.
lol the Arc Lamp Comes.
The arc lamp was first 10 be deNeiopsu
There were two electric light exhibits Al
the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia
in 1876. In years time these lights be-
gan 10 appear in Broadway thus laying
the foundation for "The Great White way
Of to-day. In 1852 Edison incandeses~
lamps were first lit In New York. Ihre'
years before they had been on eXhloluon
in Menlo Park. n. j.. as curiosity. once
the virtue OF these lights MADE Nsep
apparent, they sprung into use with al'a|
ing swiftness. Hotels, shops, theatres
clubs and finally private houses took thsln
up. until to-day they are I'm all but uhl'
yersal use Gas, however. lost utu'
ground, for with the coming Of the electro
light. the coal stove gave ground ana ga
came into general use FOR cooking. t''
development OF the big apartment ho'sS
of course. had much - do with THIS
With all this Il was not until iS% tnst
New York became,a a city of light W.
inevitable that great public utilities hA'
gas and electricity should attract the eys
of the captains Of industry. They se5s"
the opportunity and developed n Gas Na'
forced into streets that were content VI"
oil. and electric lighting was made 9 neY''s
sity 10 the shopkeeper and the hotel nlf"'
as wen as the theatre owner. Pohu0''
scandals grew out Of special prviese'
granted 10 lighting companies. out ,u'
people needed the new agencies OF nt"
Whenever a criticism was made assln''
the granting OF franchise To lay md'H'
for gas or conduits for wires the p'ou,
reioinder was at hand: a new hsht
as good as a policeman and cnedP''
Political campaigns were founded on 90,
and electrical lighting franchises au'
everywhere the demand arose for chtap
and better service. n NAV seem sur
TO the youth OF the present generation o',
II is true that until 1875 little was hea'u
public control Of public utilities
The candle and the kerosene lamP
out first. but only a few years ah'"'
the horse car and the bus
"The Great White Way
Broadway naturally was first TO zee. az"
show the effect OF all the wonderi'
vance in the science OF lighting. Let'e'
signs first began to appear IN the ,oao
known as the "Tenderloin. ABOUT
this district was bounded by lith 80
and 33d street The Holman u'e "' w..
the Imperial. the Grand-al soon -
blazing with incandescent lights a,
the advertiser began to see the posS'V.s
ties of the bulb The first big e'e'
sign told OF the virtues Of - VaHF"
OF pickles" Visitors to New fo'N -.
homo and told about this wonderful
display along Broadway ana VIZ, in
newspaper talk that grew eohs'a"u eohs.sasd
volume. other advertisers were pelsu il
TO outdo the pickle man. To-day ''sa
one sign. The Chariot Race an
Broadway. which is said to repres,,
original cost OF $4,000 and yearly nS"ly anly
nance expense of $4,000 And this y ,,'re
one OF many. These signs eaen soree
the daily. individual attention OF s.r
OF men. in some cases numberihE DSreri
dozen. at least one OF whom Il AT ,,a
mechanic The lights outside thesu Keep
botsIs in white Light Belt si'hs
c.n -. 49,. Aav and niRht