^""^oTis^y^ I    Development  of  the  Chemical  Arts,  5 1 1 
minus.  From  a  manuscript  report  which  Herr  Karl  Haase,  manager 
of  the  4th  Berlin  gas-works,  handed  in  to  the  directors  of  the  munici- 
pal committee  on  lighting,  we  borrow  the  following  graphic  description. 
"  The  sight  of  the  plantations  of  the  Elizabeth  Station,  and  of  its 
various  compartments  lit  up  with  coal-gas  and  oxygen,  is  quite  surpris- 
ing. The  effect  of  the  light  given  off  by  the  small  bluish  flames  of 
the  lamps  is  quite  peculiar,  and  cannot  be  paralleled  by  any  other  sys- 
tem of  lighting.  The  green  of  the  trees  and  shrubs  appear  more 
lively,  the  color  of  costumes  more  brilliant,  and  above  all  the  faces  of 
persons  seem  more  distinct.  Every  shade  of  color  and  every  config- 
uration comes  out  almost  as  distinctly  as  in  full  day-light,  and  yet  the 
eye  is  not  wearied.  This  favorable  impression  received  in  the  planta- 
tions is  still  heightened  on  entering  the  large  second  class  waiting  room. 
Here  every  object,  and  even  the  most  trifling  details  of  the  decorations^ 
are  shown  most  distinctly  by  the  small  flames  of  two  moderate- sized 
gaseliers. 
"  The  strongest  impression  as  regards  the  efficacy  of  this  new  svstem 
of  illumination  is  experienced  on  entering  the  departure-platform ► 
Here,  in  order  to  make  the  difference  more  striking,  the  stairs  used  by 
the  departing  passengers  were  lit  up  with  heavy  gas  aided  by  oxygen^ 
but  only  half  as  many  lamps  were  kindled  as  on  the  opposite  stairs^ 
where  the  old  gas  was  burning  along  with  oxygen.  In  spite  of  the 
double  number  of  the  burners  and  the  good  quality  of  the  coal-gas 
(equal  24  candles),  the  space  lighted  on  the  new  system  appeared  far 
more  brilliant." 
In  spite  of  this  favorable  impression,  however,  Haase  declares  the 
new  double  gas,  which  is  conveyed  in  two  sets  of  pipes,  unsuitable  for 
general  private  consumption.  He  gives,  amongst  others,  the  following 
reasons  for  his  opinion.  The  advantage  of  brightness  is  more  than 
compensated  by  the  price,  which  in  Berlin,  calculated  for  the  same 
degree  of  brightness,  would  amount  to  double  the  price  of  common 
gas. 
The  consumer  will  not  be  able  to  manage  accurately  the  changing 
regulation  of  the  cocks.  The  oxygen  will  become  impoverished  by 
passing  through  long  distances  of  mains,  and  the  repairs  of  the  double 
system  will  be  considerable,  &c.  For  certain  public  establishments, 
for  millintry  warehouses,  and  certain  other  purposes  the  new  process  will 
be  well  adapted.  But  it  would  be  out  of  the  question  to  keep  up  a 
triple  system  of  mains  for  the  sake  of  such  limited  applications.  This 
