The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-12

can cities to lead the procession The
first public lighting with gas was on
January IS, 1907. when Pail Mall, Lon
don, was lighted. On December 81. 1913
Westminster Bridge was lighted with
gas. but 1t was not until several years
later that street lighting by gas In
London was mt all extensive Baltimore
was lighted By gas in 1921.
Lebon. French scientist, secured n
patent for gas lighting in 1899 and in
1902 exhibited in Paris a house lighted
with gas. In America David Melville.
OF Newport. X. l., had In 1906 com
pleted an apparatus BY which he light
ed his house and the street in front
with gas OF his own manufacture. On
March is. 1913. Melville secured n
patent and lighted mills At Watertown.
Mass, and two mills near Providence
with the same illuminant. All this ex-
perlmcntinG and demonstration had
oeen closely watched by enterprising
Americans. On December 30. 1915 the
american and Commercial Daily Adj
vertiscr' tnow the Baltimore Ameri-
cam published a brief and pointed ar
tlcie on gas. calling attention TO tho
facts that Covent Garden Theatre and
some London streets were lighted by
gas that the inventors had offered
eight or ten years later to the ueople
or baltimore. who had laughed at tho
idea ''''
The article concluded with n tart
conlmcnt-"An American inventor. II
would appear. can have little credit
In America until he receives the sane
ton OF the people OF London" In tho
ioiiowlnS year gas lights were en-
hibitcd IN Pealc's Museum OH North
Holiday Street, Baltimore, and this
building is stll standing.
when the museum was discontinued,
the building was for several wears
used as City Hall. and later for n
public school. 1t is now occupied by
the Baltimore City Water Works Tho
demonstration by Mr.. Peale resulted in
the formation of a company for the
manufacture OF gas III sufficient guam
titles 10 light the entire city. The
company began operations In 1921
DISTINGUISHED Artists
Baltimore now has in the nciphhor-
MOOD OF 10000 meters. and il requires
ABOUT GOO miles of mains to supply the
city. Add TO this what is called the
service pipes. or those short lengths
OF pipes running FROM the MAINS into
the houses and connecting with the
meters. ana the total amount of pipe
would probably extend straight across
North America. II will be remember
ed that Rembrandt Pcalc, whose mu-
scum was lighted by gas. was an in
tcrcStinG character, and so too was
ms father. Charles Wilson Pcale Both
We're distinguished artists. Rembrandt
Pcaie was horn In Pennsylvania in
ZOOS, ana died in 1850 ut an early
age he showed much skill in drawing
and when he was but seventeen years
old painted portrait OF George Wash
lngton. From 1896 to 1901 Rembrandt
Peaie was 4 portrait painter in Charles
ton. ;. c.. and then studied for three
years III London under benjamin West
ana afterwards spent some time in
Paris. In 1900 ne returned to this
country and settled in Philadelphia
painted many portraits and two other
pictures. The Roman Daughter and
The Court OF Death" The latter was
exhibited throughout the country, in
crcaSing the artists fame.
In this country tho cities tina; first
used gas were CINCINNATI. Baltimore
Newport. Y. l., New York and Boston.
IL might be said that gas was orig
inally made Of the resin of tho pine
and this crude method OF manufacture
made II very expensive. 1t may also
be- said that in Its distribution the
mains werc made OF tho followed
trunks OF trees. and that when first in
troduccd in some of tho homes, it has
been stated, and not denied. that the
barrels or old guns were used for
pipes In tho interior OF tho buildings
AS late s three years ago. in excayat-
ing in New York for the subways. n
section OF tho old wooden main with u