1821.] of illuminating bi/ Gas from Oil and from Coal, 215 



large quantity of hydrosulphuret of lime, which is extremely- 

 Offensive and quite useless. In the oil gas estabhshment, the 

 conveyance of 153 tons of materials is all that is required, the 

 whole of which is consumed, and the entire profit derived froni 

 One product only, and that the sole object of manufacture. 



From the above investigation, it is clear that on this point 

 also the oil gas must be infinitely preferable as deriving its profit 

 from the consumption of materials of small fnilk, and the product 

 being only one article readily disposed of. It is, therefore, I 

 think, evident, that such an establishment must be carried on 

 with much less trouble than where the materials are extremely 

 bulky, and the profits derivable from various articles, some of 

 which are disposed of with difficulty, and are together almost as 

 bulky as those from which they were originally produced. 



From the foregoing statements, it must clearly appear that the 

 capital required for the estabhshment of an oil gas work must be 

 considerably less than would be necessary for one of coal gas*. 

 The fewer retorts, the smaller size of the gasometers and convey- 

 ance pipes, the much greater simphcity, and consequently cheap- 

 ness of the apparatus, together with the very little labour 

 and superintendence required in works even upon a very large 

 scale, prove clearly, and without any further comment, that the 

 capital requisite in the one will, as already mentioned, bear no 

 proportion to that necessary in the other. This is an object of 

 some consequence to those embarking in sujch an undertaking, 

 as the risk of loss in case of failure is comparatively small, and 

 Consequently less difficulty will be found in forming an oil than 

 ia coal gas establishment. 



The next subject for consideration is which is the more eco- 

 nomical method ? and it may appear surprising to many that 

 light from oil gas can be afforded to the consumer as cheap as. 

 that from coal, and at the same time yield as great or greater 

 profit to the Company supplying it. This is, however, the case^ 

 though we have not such satisfactory data to go upon as to make 

 it clearly demonstrable, from being unable to ascertain what the 

 profits of the Coal Gas Companies really are, and which can only 

 be assumed from the known dividends which are made upon 

 their shares. The difficulty of calculating profits must always 

 be increased when they are derivable from an average of various 

 articles, for some of which there is a fluctuating demand, and 

 which, from their increased production, are likely to diminish iii 

 ^ Value. From some known data, it is supposed that the cost of 

 coal gas to the Companies, reckoning the sale of coke, tar, &c. 

 Would be about 10s. per 1000 cube feet; the seUing price is esti- 

 inated at the rate of 15s.* : it may be more, but is certainly not 



*■ • Since writing the above, I have been informed, on good authority, that in some of 

 the provincial cities and towns, the selling price of coal gas is estimated much higheif 

 Aan 1 5s. per 1000 cube feet. This is what may be expected, for should the supply of 

 «oal gas become much greater, in consequence of an increased demand for it, without 



