18S3.J 071 Gas Light 'EstahluhmentSi*^ *'^^ 11 



burners, fancifully termed a bat's-wing, to the ga§6tti"fete!' of oil 

 gas, with 7-8ths of an inch pressure. There was a very intense 

 light, accompanied by a great deal of smoke, and the quantity 

 consumed, which was accurately measured, scarcely exceeds two 

 feet per hour ; while in coal gas it burns at least five feet. The 

 way in which the difference between oil and coal gas is esti- 

 mated is, that in lamps giving equal light, the one will consume 

 one and one-third foot per hour ; while the other will burn five 

 feet in the same time. 



It is impossible from the statement given in the Report, to 

 draw any correct comparison between the advantages of oil and 

 coal gas ; yet if we take the most favourable part of each Com- 

 pany, and compare it with oil gas, we shall find the superiority 

 of the latter to be quite as great, if not greater, than I have 

 before mentioned. The average quantity of gas consumed by 

 each burner of the Chartered Company, allowing for waste, can- 

 not be less than o-i- feet per hour. By an accurate account kept 

 of the quantity of gas consumed each hour during the night for 

 several nights at the Oldford Works, and taking the hours 

 between two and four, the time when only the pubhc lamps were 

 alight, and the number could be correctly ascertained, the ave- 

 rage quantity of gas for each lamp was from l-|- to l-i- foot per 

 hour, making it rather less than 1 to 4. This quantity is a 

 pretty near average for the private hghts. Comparing this with 

 the other two Companies, it would be nearly as 1 to 5-i- : my 

 experiments were always as 1 to 4 ; but I calculated only as 

 1 to 3^ ; in both I have been within the mark. 



In the amount of capital I will draw a comparison with the 

 City of London Company. This is very little more than half the 

 Chartered, supposing their statement to be quite correct — that 

 they are quite clear of debts — and that their whole expenditure 

 has not exceeded the sum stated in the Report. To produce the 

 same number of lights with oil gas, a sum of 15,000/. for all 

 necessary erections, apparatus, &c. law charges, and other con- 

 tingencies, exclusive of mains, would be ample for every expence. 

 The cost of 50 miles of main would not exceed 35,000/. so that 

 a capital of 50,000/. would be sufficient. This is somewhat 

 more than one-third compared with the above-mentioned Com- 

 pany, but with the Chartered, and their statement carries the 

 greatest appearance of correctness, the difference would be con- 

 siderably more. From the comparative small capital which is 

 required for an oil gas estabhshment, it is clear if the same 

 profit be derived from every light, the amount of dividend upon 

 the money advanced must be, taking the average, three or four 

 times as much in the one instance as in the other. 



There is also another great advantage attendant on oil gas 

 establishments which I have not sufficiently dwelt upon, and that 

 relates to the current expences. In the Chartered Company, the 



