WILLIAM SIEMENS, F.R.S. 335 



facilitate the establishment of electrical conductors in towns, 

 subject to certain regulating clauses to protect the interests of the 

 c and of local authorities. Assuming the cost of electric 

 to be practically the same as gas, the preference for one or 

 other will in each application be decided upon grounds of relative 

 coiivtiu'iice, but I venture to think that gas-lighting will hold its 

 o\\ n as the poor man's friend. 



Gas is an institution of the utmost value to the artisan ; it 

 requires hardly any attention, is supplied upon regulated terms, 

 and gives with what should be a cheerful light a genial warmth, 

 which often saves the lighting of a fire. The time is moreover 

 not far distant, I venture to think, when both rich and poor will 

 largely resort to gas as the most convenient, the cleanest, and the 

 cheapest of heating agents, and when raw coal will be seen only at 

 the colliery or the gasworks. In all cases Avhere the town to be 

 supplied is within say 30 miles of the colliery, the gasworks 

 may with advantage be planted at the mouth, or still better at the 

 bottom of the pit, whereby all haulage of fuel would be avoided, 

 and the gas, in its ascent from the bottom of the colliery, would 

 acquire an onward pressure sufficient probably to impel it to its 

 destination. The possibility of transporting combustible gas 

 through pipes for such a distance has been proved at Pittsburg, 

 where natural gas from the oil district is used in large quantities 

 for heating purposes. 



The quasi monopoly so long enjoyed by gas companies has had 

 the inevitable effect of checking progress. The gas being supplied 

 by meter, it has been seemingly to the advantage of the companies 

 to give merely the prescribed illuminating power, and to dis- 

 courage the invention of economical burners, in order that the 

 consumption might reach a maximum. The application of gas 

 for heating purposes has not been encouraged, and is still made 

 difficult in consequence of the objectionable practice of reducing 

 the pressure in the mains during daytime to the lowest possible 

 point consistent with prevention of atmospheric indraught. The 

 introduction of the electric light has convinced gas managers and 

 directors that such a policy is no longer tenable, but must give 

 way to one of technical progress ; new processes for cheapening 

 the production and increasing the purity and illuminating power 

 of gas are being fully discussed before the Gas Institute ; and 



