44 Dr Andrew Fyfe on the Comparative Value of 



I have said that the value of the coke has not been taken 

 into account in these calculations ; it must, however, be borne 

 in mind, that, while I have fixed the value of the Newcastle 

 coal for aifording light by the combustion of its gas, as very 

 low, compared to that of the cannel coals, yet, taking into 

 account the greater quantity of coke which it yields, and the 

 higher price at which that coke is sold, the value of the coal 

 to gas-manufacturers becomes comparatively greater than I 

 have stated, of course, in this point of view, reducing the 

 value of the others as compared with it ; but then this has 

 nothing to do with the question under consideration, viz., 

 the comparative value of the coals for affording light by the 

 combustion of their gases. 



3. JExfpensefor Light by different Oases. 



Having fixed the value of the gases obtained from the va- 

 rieties of coal mentioned, I have now to advert to the prices 

 paid for the gases at different places, with the view of shewing 

 the comparative expense to consumers for the same amount 

 of light. 



In examining this part of the subject, a difficulty occurs, 

 owing to the different methods followed in charging for gas 

 in diffei'ent towns. The following remarks must therefore 

 be considered only as an approximation to the truth. 



English Ca/ciuff -Coal Gas. — The charge for this gas is about 

 4s. 6d. per 1000 feet, as at Newcastle, subject to discount, 

 by which, and by charge for street-lamps, the average price 

 may be taken as 3s. lOd. Let us take this as unity. 



In the different towns I have visited in England, where 

 English cannel coal is used, the charge varies fi'om 4s. 6d. to 

 5s. 6d. Suppose we take the average at 5s., then the com- 

 parative charge for it, and for English caking-coal gas, is as 

 1-3 to 1, But the value of the gases, bulk for bulk, for the 

 purposes of illumination, being as 1-85 to 1, then the compara- 

 tive price paid for the same amount of light is only 75 to 100. 



The price charged for the Scottish parrot-coal gas varies 

 considei'ably in different towns, owing chiefly to the difference 

 in the expense of coal. I have found it to vary, in the larger 

 towns, from 5s. to 7s., but, making allowance for discount, 

 it goes from 5s. to 6s. 6d. Taking it as 5s., then the charge, 



