Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-16

The members Of the Southern Gas AS
sociation, which meets for its fourth
annual convention at Jacksonville. Fla,
this week, are keeping fully abreast Of
the times in considering subjects dealing
with the newer developments of gas with
relation to its value as a public utility
and as a commercial product, and the
latest ideas regarding its manufacture
and the uses to which 1t Is being put.
The fact that this year terminates the
century which has elapsed since the in
PRODUCTION Of gas for lighting purposes
was first agitated In the United States
renders the consideration OF its numerous
uses and their extension Of especial value
at present.
In 1903 gas Examinations were first ex-
hibited in the Lyceum in London under
the direction Of a gentleman named
Winsor. who was so enthusiastic over
the new discovery that he promised every
one investing five pounds sterling in the
promotion OF the new enterprise a return
Of five hundred pounds. He urged the
government to take 1t up as a means Of
paying OF the English national debt, as
well as of securing a large revenue to
the nation. Chiefly as a result OF his
enthusiasm the sum of fifty thousand
and Heat Company formed in 1910. under
a charter of parliament. This company
first lighted Pail Mall and afterward car
ried the gas service to all parts Of Lon
Of this work, but as he was an en-
thusiastic scientist rather than a man
OF practical affairs, he was succeeded by
Samuel Gleg, who invented the ny
draulic main. the wet lime purifier and
the wet gas meter.
Baltimore was the first city In the
United States to install gas for illumi-
nation, and this was
1llumlnant First not until the year
n.,4 1891. In 1922 Bos-
AZ ton erected a gas
plant, and between the years 1923 and
1897 gas lighting became general In New
York city. The gas used for illumina-
ton has been chiefly secured from COAL
although water gas has been moro re-
Gently manufactured.
At first no attempt was made to Sc
cure any other product than gas from
the coal consumed for that purpose, but
with the development of gas came the
discoveries Of many uses In which the
waste products resulting from gas manu-
laClure COulO De utlllzeQs 30 Iu3t CaSA
year adds materially to the commercial
value Of these by-products. The products
of gas distillatioh contain vapors OF tar
and naphtha, together with steam i'm
pregnated with carbonate of ammonia
and sulphide of ammonium. These vapors
condense in the pipes and clog them up.
Now their value not only provides Tor
the expense Of removing them, but Is
also a source Of revenue, adding greatly
to the assets Of the gas-producing plant;
In the United States the coal treated
IN the coke ovens of all kinds and In
coal gas works amounts to 81. 233, 523 tons
in a year. The sulphate OF ammonia
which could have been produced from
this would have amounted to 1 per cent
or $50, 1856 tons. The amount actually
produced amounted to about 20 per cent
Of this. The value Of ammonia as q
fertilizer is so recognised that over six
million tons valued at $11S,OOO,OOO were
consumed upon the farms OF this coun-
try last year. The coal gas industry. es-
pecially in the southern states where
fertilization is in greatest demand, fur
nishes but small proportion of the am
! monia which could be utilized, and q
vigorous propaganda regarding the value
of this by-product to the farmer and the
interest 1t is to the gas manufactures tc
produce 1t in greater quantities. Is now
being carried on.
Water gas Is being used more largely