26 Electricity as an Illuminant. 



think it is liable to go out at any minute without cause. I 

 have not found it guilty of any of these vagaries. There is one 

 danger that possibly may not occur to all regarding the sup- 

 posed instability of the light, i.e.^ in a mill if the light were 

 suddenly to go out, the first move of the hands would be to 

 throw off all the machinery ; and this in the case of an engine 

 not properly provided with regulating apparatus might cause a 

 serious breakdown. On the other hand, there are considerable 

 advantages. The light can be turned on at any moment when 

 required. In a mill a great deal of the floor space is covered by 

 machinery, and to place the gas in the most convenient part 

 would necessitate climbing on to this machinery in order to 

 light it. With electric light you can place the light exactly 

 where you want it. Another thing is the absence of risk from 

 fire. Electric light is safer, as with it you do not require to 

 carry naked lights about. At Hilden we have gas at 3s. 3d. 

 per thousand feet, and by taking our gas consumption for the 

 year and keeping a record of the number of lights I find the cost 

 per gas burner comes out to 7s. 3d. a year ; — in this comparison 

 there is a difference of lod. per light per annum in favour of 

 the electric light, which is a material saving. At Dunmurry 

 we make our own gas, and, without any allowance whatever 

 towards keep up of gas plant, we find that the cost per burner 

 per year comes to 6s. 



Mr. Macassey — There is no doubt a great deal of prejudice 

 against the introduction of electric light into houses. For open 

 spaces and large factories it is in my opinion the best light, but 

 I do not myself anticipate that any of us present will live to see 

 the time when gas as an illuminant will be driven out of our 

 private houses and offices. The matter has been fully explained 

 now, and the question for the Belfast ratepayers is what should 

 our representatives in the Town Hall do with this question ? 

 Should we sell our gas works for old iron, or should we con- 

 tinue to keep them up in an efficient state and go in for elec- 

 tricity on a small scale ? I have made enquiries in London and 

 other places where electricity has been introduced, and so far as 



