ADVANTAGES OF GAS LIGHTS. ^QS 



But in general we go on making and using it, so that I can- CakuSation of 

 not tell to fifty or one hundred gallons : and in fact a great ^^'■^ l"'*^^*" 

 deal depends on the coal, some coals making much more than 

 others. These twenty-five pounds of coal put into the retort, * 

 and say twenty-five pounds more to heat the retort, which is 

 more than it does take one time with another, but I am wil- 

 ling to say the utmost, are worth fourpence per day. From 

 this fourpence we burn eighteen or twenty lights during the 

 winter season. The candles we used were six to the pound, 

 which on an average one time with another would be about 

 twopence each, though now nearly twopence halfpenny. Say 

 eighteen candles at twopence each are three shillings a day, 

 or eighteen shillings a week ; and that each man burnt his 

 candle for twenty weeks only in the year, though for the 

 winter quarter he in general has burnt two instead of one ; 

 making the annvial amount eighteen pounds. 



Besides, my yeai'ly expense in oil and cotton for solder- utjiity of th« 

 ing was full ,£30, which is entirely saved, as I now do all gas for solder- 

 my soldering by the gas flame only. My trade is that of a '"^* 

 manufacturer of toys, in metal and gold. Now in all but- 

 ton soldei'ing, all the plated articles, in fact all trades in 

 which the blowpipe is used with oil and cotton, the gas 

 flame will be found much superior, both as to quickness, and 

 neatness in the work ; for the flame is sharper, and is con- 

 stantly ready for use, while with oil and cotton the workman 

 is always forced to wait for his lamp getting up ; that is, 

 until it is sufficiently on fire to do his work. Thus a great 

 quantity of oil is always burnt away useless ; but with the 

 gas, the moment the stop cock is turned, the lamp is ready, 

 and not a moment is lost. 



You see my weekly expenditure in coal does not exceed Expenditure 

 two shillings ; and if I allow five shillings a week to a man, for gas. 

 to employ part of his time to attend and make the gas, the 

 expense will then be seven shillings. The yearly expense, 

 if I take it at the same the whole year (although for twenty- 

 five or thirty weeks in the year none will be required as 

 candles) will only amount to £lQ 4s. I have, I know, in 

 the instance of candles, much underrated the expense, as 

 also in oil. I have also estimated the expense in coal, &c., 

 quite high enough ; and the coak I find equally as cheap to 



bura 



