1823.] of Oil Gas Establishments. 219 



light as any in the vicinity of London. This Company ori- 

 ginated with some few gentlemen in the neighbourhood who 

 were anxious to have the road lighted with it. Many who 

 subscribed did it without any view to profit, wishing only for 

 the advantages of the light. Messrs. Taylor and Martineau 

 held out no very flattering prospects, although they contem- 

 plated that it might not be unattended with profit ; and such 

 too was the opinion which I had formed when I assisted in pro- 

 moting it. 



Of the 10,000/. the capital subscribed for, only 8000/. have 

 been advanced. Two sets of retorts, with the necessary appa- 

 ratus, a gasometer containing 8000 cubic feet, and capacious 

 reservoirs for oil, have been constructed ; seven miles of main 

 have been laid in various directions, the total cost having been 

 about 7,300/.* There are at present only 100 customers sup- 

 plied from this establishment, but it is difficult to say, how many 

 lights are in use, as the gas is supplied by meters, and paid for 

 according to the quantity consumed ; so that any person may 

 have as many burners as he pleases. The average number in 

 constant use may be reckoned at about 500 or 600 ; besides 

 which there are about 180 public lights supplied at a price which 

 yields no profit. One man as gas-maker, and a boy to assist 

 him, are the only labourers required, and without any addi- 

 tion, these might supply double the number of lights. In this 

 case, the current expences of labour, wear and tear, rent, and 

 incidentals, would continue the same, the only additional charge 

 being the cost of oil and coals. In my former statement, when 

 I calculated the expences at 5s. 6d. per 1000 feet as a fixed sum, 

 I was incorrect. This sum must be constantly diminishing with 

 the increased demand for gas. On the present scale at this gas 

 work, the expences maybe estimated at 6s. per 1000 feet; if the 

 consumption was doubled, it would be only 3s. per 1000 feet; 

 and if the apparatus supplied to the full extent of what our 

 capital would allow us, it would be considerably less ; for with 

 the addition of another gasometer and one labourer, during the 

 winter months, I have no doubt from the observations I have 

 made, that between 3000 or 4000 burners might be kept supplied. 

 Two pairs of retorts working 8 or 10 hours a day, are found suf- 

 ficient to provide all the gas for the present winter consumption, 

 amounting to about 6000 feet per night. If the whole six pairs 

 were at work, and kept employed night and day as they are in 

 coal gas works, more than six times that quantity might be pro- 

 duced. If the Company had erected their own buildings, and 

 furnished themselves with another gasometer, their capital sub- 

 scribed would have been sufficient to have covered all these 



* The sum expended, as shown by the accounts, is about 7,700/. but of this nearly 

 400/. are for gas meters, and 760/. for an Act of Parliament. It should be observed 

 that the building has been erected by the ground landlord, who receives an adequate rent. 



