412 Sir W . Congreve on [June, 



ing, in the whole, 917,940 cubic feet of gas, supplied by 1,315 

 retorts ; these retorts consuming upwards of 33,000 chaldrons 

 of coal in the year, and producing upwards of 41,000 chaldrons 

 of coke. The whole quantity of gas generated annually being 

 upwards of 397,000,000 cubic feet, by which 61,203 private, and 

 7,268 public or street lamps are now lighted in the metropolis. 

 In addition to these great companies, who are the subject of 

 this Report, as being placed by legislative enactment under the 

 .control of the Secretary of State, there are in the metropolis 

 several private companies, whose operations are not included in 

 the foregoing statements ; but on which I shall feel it right to 

 make some remarks before 1 conclude. 



In Table, No. 8,* will be seen the details of all the above- 

 mentioned totals ; the following consideration of which will, 1 

 think, point out the importance of thus having collected these 

 particulars into a single point of view, as tending to regulate the 

 just price which ought to be charged to the public for the gas 

 they consume ; and, at the same time, by the general compara- 

 tive view thus obtained of the whole system, as tending to induce 

 ■every company to adopt the best mode of conducting its works. 

 Presuming, and believing, as I do, in the correctness of the 

 particulars of information given me by the different companies, as 

 to the quantity of coal consumed in their retorts, and the average 

 workings of those retorts during the year; it appears, by a 

 review of these totals, either that the average consumption of 

 gas per lamp, allowing for waste, is not so great as is generally 

 stated ; or that the quantity of gas generated from a chaldron of 

 coals, is greater; or that the average limes which these lamps 

 are allowed to remain lighted, is not so great as reported ; for if 

 the consumption or waste of gas were equal to what is generally 

 believed, or the quantity produced were not greater, I find that 

 the number of lamps returned could not have been lighted for 

 the times stated. 



The general statement made by the companies of the con- 

 sumption of gas for each lamp, is five cubic feet per hour ; and 

 that of the produce of gas per chaldron, something less than 

 12,000 cubic feet per chaldron ; now allowing full 12,000 cubic 

 feet per chaldron to be generated, it appears that the average 

 consumption of gas per lamp in the hour by the London Com- 

 pany, does not exceed four cubic feet and a half; nor is the 

 average time of burning, winter and summer, for private lamps, 

 more than four hours ; or for public lamps, more than nine hours, 

 which is below the supposed average. 



By Table, No. 8, it also appears that in the City of London 

 Gas Works, the consumption of gas per lamp, allowing the same 

 time of burning, is six cubic feet and a half per hour, instead of 

 four, as above stated. It is evident, therefore, that there exists 



* For this table, as well as other interesting particulars, we must refer the reader to 

 the original report. — Edit. 



