INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1874. clxxxv 



this nature, appears, according to the analytical results ob- 

 tained by Professors Sill i man and Wurtz, to have been prac- 

 tically overcome by the Gwynne-Harris mechanism. 



The latest and most interesting development of this proc- 

 ess is that of employing its water-gas features with oil or 

 naphtha gas. As carried out at one of the Brooklyn works, 

 a coal gas of low illuminating power is made, the retorts 

 being run so as to secure the highest possible yield. The 

 gas thus obtained, or a portion thereof, is then mixed with 

 the water gas (obtained as above), carried to the naphtha 

 works, and forced through the stills. Having loaded itself 

 with the enriching vapors of the naphtha, it is passed through 

 other heated retorts, when, it is claimed, an illuminating gas 

 is formed possessing a permanency superior even to that 

 possessed by coal gas. Its subsequent treatment is simply 

 that now used in the condensation, etc., of ordinary coal gas. 

 In quality the petroleum water-gas is said to be decidedly 

 better than the average of that from coal, and the cost of 

 its manufacture is placed at one third less than the latter. 

 There are said to be some twenty or more works in this 

 country now making oil gas. 



The utilization of the light petroleum oils in this manner 

 must be looked upon with favor in every quarter; and it is 

 to be desired that the demand for them in this opening field 

 will grow to such an extent as to effect their complete with- 

 drawal from those illegitimate and reprehensible uses in 

 which their dangerous qualities are so prominently involved, 

 to the constant peril of life and property. 



A vulcanized-rubber iron tube, we may remark, is a novel- 

 ty recently introduced as an article of commerce by Messrs. 

 Morris, Tasker, & Co., which is claimed to possess superiority 

 over all other materials as a conduit for water, hot or cold. 

 It is said to withstand a high temperature without injury, 

 and to resist the corrosive action of sulphuric and muriatic 

 acids and of caustic alkalies. 



The gradually extending introduction into the larger 

 towns and cities of our country of the pneumatic system 

 of excavating vaults, cesspools, etc., to replace the barbar- 

 ous and unwholesome method of removing such accumula- 

 tions of refuse piecemeal with buckets, may be looked upon 

 as indicating a growing appreciation of a most valuable 



