424 Sir W. Congteve on [June, 



ther of these factories is formed at Poplar, and another in Cro- 

 mer-street, Brunswick-square. 



It does not, however, seem necessary that I should now go 

 into any further details respecting these works, though it is 

 important that I should state that they have been established 

 entirely without Act. of Parliament or other licence, and that it 

 appears to me, as these works are liable to accident and nui- 

 sance, as well as those carried on upon a larger scale, though 

 not, perhaps, the same extent, that they ought also to become 

 the object of such rules and regulations as the government may 

 deem it expedient to determine upon for the conduct of the 

 principal works — and that no gas works whatever should be 

 allowed to be formed without a licence in the first instance, and 

 without being subjected to subsequent inspection and control. 



Oil Gas Works. 



I ought not to close this Report without adding a few words 

 more on the subject of oil gas, although there is no part of the 

 application of this modification of the system, which at present 

 regularly falls within the scope of this Report. 



I am sorry to say, that but little extension in this branch of 

 the gas lights has taken place in the metropolis since my last 

 Report, although it has been adopted by some of the largest 

 provincial towns, namely, Liverpool, Plymouth, Cambridge, and 

 Taunton, and, as I understand, Dublin also. 



In London one public company* only has been established, 

 which is situated near Old Ford ; these works consist of one 

 gasometer, 30 feet in diameter and 12 feet deep, supplied by 

 12 retorts, of which, however, not more than three or four are 

 at present kept in action, as the quantity of gas consumed 

 does not exceed 6,000 cubic feet daily. 



These retorts are charged only once a day, a continued small 

 stream of oil being kept constantly dropping into them. 



One gallon of oil is calculatedto produce 100 cubic feet of 

 gas, the illuminating power of which is stated to be equal to more 

 than 300 cubic feet of coal gas. 



The oil gas requires only to be passed through a cistern of oil 

 for its purification. The oil undergoes no change in the process, 

 so as to deteriorate it, or render it offensive, like the lime water 

 used in the purification of coal gas, neither is there any residuum 

 left in the distillation by which a nuisance can be created. 



Oil of any inferior description is capable of producing good 

 gas, though some of the vegetable oils arc the best. 



About seven miles of main are attached to these works, run- 

 ning from the London Hospital, Whitechapel, to the four mile- 

 stone, Stratford. 



* The capital granted to this company by Act of Parliament is 10,000/. of which 

 6000/. has been already raised. 



