Gas Lights > 317 



GAS LIGHTS. 



This valuable improvement in science is about to be extended 

 to the British Settlements in North America : the followmg 

 commmiication on the subject appears in a recent Halifax pa- 



^^^ ' " Fort Ellis, Nova Scotia, Aucnst 22, 1815. 



'' Mr. Editor,— From a sense of the great benefits which 

 society may derive from the following, we solicit a place in your 

 valuable paper, so as to communicate our discoveries, tor the 

 general benefit of mankind, and of this province in particular. 

 We think its utility will be universal throughout the whole con- 

 tinent of America, 'as it mav be carried into eifect so as to su- 

 persede in a great measure the consumption of candles and oil, 

 whether in streets, warehouses, stores, workshops, or dwelling- 

 houses ; it will be found beneficial to every rank and class oi in- 

 habitants. The simplicity and easy expense of materials, and in 

 constructing an apparatus to put it into practice, will, we trust, 

 render it an object worthy of public attention. We took about 

 six ounces of birch bark, and about two ounces of pitch pme 

 knots, which we put into a metal tea-kettle holding about a 

 gallon : we secured the top with clay, to prevent the gas evapo- 

 rating therefrom : then placing the kettle on the fire, in about 

 five to seven minutes the current of smoke began to play out ot 

 the nose of the kettle, to which we applied a lighted candle : it 

 communicated with the gas as quick as gunpowder, and continu- 

 ed burning with a clear and bright light, equal to three candles, 

 for the space of ove hour and Ikirly minutes. At the next triftl, 

 after cleaning the kettle of all the substances, so as to ascertam 

 the effects of the bark alone ; we put ten ounces of birch bark, 

 and lengthened the conductor with reeds, or rush-pipes, and 

 applied a lighted candle as formerly to the current issuing from 

 the pipes, and it continued to give a most beautiful light for 

 the space of three hours without ever burning the reeds. We 

 observed that there was about one or one and a half inch ot 

 current between the reed and the flame. The longer the con- 

 ductor the more pleasant the light, so that from one conductor 

 there may be a variety of lights, and that too may be carried to 

 the distance of miles by means of a conductor. Though the 

 assertion may seem strange to some, to those who are any way 

 acquainted with the nature of gas we are assured it will meet 

 their approbation. 



<' Thus far, sir, we have detailed, and trust that future ex- 

 periments will give demonstrative proof of its utility. 

 ^ (Signed) " James Harris. 



" James Harper." 



Messrs. 



