1821.] Comparative View of Oil and Coal Gas, 385 



Your correspondent says, that the more unpleasant the gas is, 

 the more readily is its escape detected. I am very wilUng to 

 allow, that though not so unpleasant as coal gas, oil gas is quite 

 enough so to insure detection. The only question in dispute 

 then is, which may be procured the cheapest. I think I have 

 proved that the advantages rest with oil gas ; but even suppos- 

 ing it were as expensive as coal gas, its superiority in every 

 other respect will, when its use is as well known, give it 

 a decided preference. I have subjoined a table of the cost'of 

 gas at 12 different estabhshments. This has been kindly fur- 

 nished me by a friend, who undertook, from their printed rate 

 cards, to make the necessary calculations, and which, I believe^ 

 may be strictly depended on for their accuracy. This table will 

 be a sufficient proof that in estimating the selling price of gas 

 generally at \5s. per 1000 cubic feet, I have not been so wrong 

 as your correspondent has assumed ; but, on the contrary, that my 

 estimate has been too low instead of too high. The average 

 price for the 1 2 establishments quoted is \6s. lOtZ. instead of 15s. 

 1 have been unsuccessful in my endeavours to procure rate 

 tables either of the Sheffield or Derby companies. I have seen- 

 a printed paper from Derby which states the intention of the- 

 promoters of that estabhshment to sell gas at 7s. i5d. per 1000 

 cubic feet ; but I have seen no document from which it can be' 

 inferred that they actually do so sell it. 



Were I to hazard an opinion on the cause of such small profits' 

 as are generally known to accrue even from gas estabhsh- 

 ments which make high charges, I should attribute it to the 

 injudicious mode of charging for hght ; namely, by the number 

 of burners used instead of by the quantity of gas consumed ; in 

 the former way, there is no check upon the consumer; and 

 every one who walks the streets in the evening must observe the 

 extravagant waste of gas in the different shops — an extrava- 

 gance which does not benefit the consumer, while it very 

 seriously injures the Company providing the gas. This might 

 be obviated by the use of the gas meter: the perfection to 

 which this machine is now brought, and the correctness with 

 which it registers the quantity of gas that passes through it, 

 will ensure its preference over every mode of estimating the 

 price of gas both to the Companies, and the consumers, if it 

 became generally adopted. 



New Series, vol. i. 2 b 



