248 On Mr. Ricardo's comparative Advantages^ 



oven, as adopted at Nottingham, I understand that 34 circular 

 retorts of the same size as those mentioned by Mr. R., have 

 through this winter supphed above 1600 lights ! each light ex- 

 travagantly supplied with gas. So much for the correctness of 

 the statement under Mr. R.'s second head. 



His third head, " The capital required for such establish- 

 ments," is involved in his fourth, which we will hasten to notice. 

 He savs, " The next subject for consideration is. Which is the more 

 ©economical 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." Indeed it will appear very 

 surprisina to many, especially to the Derby people, that it should 

 be possible, after contrasting a coTinler slalement. He says, 

 " 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 105. per 1000 cube feet; the selling price is estimated 

 at the rate of 15j." — " The profit and loss account of an oil gas 

 establishment may be calculated very easily." " The cost for pro- 

 ducing 1000 cube feet of oil gas will bfe as follows: £ s. d. 



Ten gallons of oil at 25. per gallon 1 



One bushel of coals 1 6 



Labour, wear, tear, and contingencies . . . . 5 6 



4'1 7 0" 

 This then (or rather 0O5. which Mr. R. allows) is the prime 

 cost of 1000 feet of oil gas, where the oil can be bought at the 

 very cheapest rate, and no inland carriage to be added to it. What 

 it must be charged by any public company to the consumers of it, 

 so as to meet the many looked for and unlcoked for expenses 

 upon the Sale thereof, and yet to divide 10 per cent, profit, I 

 think would be difficult, at least disheartening, to say; inasmuch 

 as it is just 100 per cent, dearer than its equivalent in coal gas 

 may be purchased for in this town. 



For the contract entered into with Mr.Wigston to furnish coal 

 gas of the best quality into the Derby Gas Company's gasometer, 

 he finding retorts, condenser, coals, lime, labour, wear and tear, 

 is at the rate of one shilling and eightpence * per thousand feet ! ! 

 and the price charged by the Company to consumers, who take 

 it by measure, is seven shillings and sixpence per thousand 



* This I am aware is a price so low that it astonishes all, and is incre- 

 dible to many. It shows that he is either content with very little profit, or 

 that he has stept out of the path of the old method of making coal gas. In 

 the construction and arrangement of some parts of the Derby apparatus 

 he has certainly shown considerable mechanical ingenuity and independence 

 of thought. 



feet ! ! ! 



