360 [Assembly 



obtaining gas, originally patented m England by Mr. White "which con- 

 sists in forming olefiant gas by dropping into the heated retort, resin 

 previously melted ; as it drops on the red hot iron it is immediately 

 gasified, and the products are passed into the hydraulic main j in a 

 second retort, also heated by the same furnace, are placed some char- 

 coal and iron turnings ; on these water is dropped, it is decomposed, 

 and the result is the formation of hydrogen and a little carbonic oxide ; 

 these are also delivered into the main where they mix with the olefiant 

 gas, both are carried to the gasometer, where they are mechanically 

 mixed, and driven into the supply pipes. After the separation of the 

 tarry products, this gas requires little father purification, and in this 

 respect has an advantage over coal gas. 



Its chief recommendation is the capability of producing it so as to 

 light small buildings, hotels, factories, and single street blocks. It 

 may be inserted in any furnance employed for other purposes, and the 

 same furnace -which heats a house daily may at the same time produce 

 its gas. 



The cost of production is very small. Forty pounds of resin and 

 fifteen pounds of w'ater will produce one thousand cubic feet of gas, 

 which gives a brilliant light, and of which five feet will go as far as 

 ten feet of the New-York Gas Company's gas. For one thousand 

 cubic feet the Company charge four dollars, (much too large a sum). 

 Resin is one quarter of a cent per pound, and calculating all expenses, 

 the same quantity could be manufactured, with profit, under fifty 

 cents. Mr. Baxter deserves credit for introducing this cheap and good 

 gas into this city. The gas with which this city is lighted, by both 

 Companies, is very bad, and very dear, and nothing but monopoly 

 could sustain it in its present condition. Next to good water, the most 

 essential necessity for a city, is good light, and cheap light. 



In European cities, gas is manufactured from coal and sold at one 

 third the price which the New- York people pay for it. Manchester 

 pays only one dollar and a quarter ; Dublin, one dollar and a half ; 

 and London, 6ne dollar and three quarters, for what New-York City 

 pays four dollars ; and in the two last cities there is no neglect of 

 lighting street lamns at full moon season. There are several uses to 



