The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1887. CHEAP ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1509, 17 March 1887, Page 2

The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1887. CHEAP ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING

? Some time ago we drew attention to s a new system of lighting, patented m New Zealand by a Mr Hooker, ol Wellington, from which great results were anticipated. This was by the admixture of atmospheric air with ordinary caal gap, or by the saturation of air with oil, it being claimed that by the use of a specially prepared burner equal illuminating power to that of ordinary gas could be obtained at about one-eighth of the cost. We ourselves saw the new system put m operation at Parliament buildings last year with apparent success, and it is well-known that the patent right for the colony was purchased by Mr J. 3 Kerr, the member for Waimea, for That gentleman, it was stated, han sold the right for the city of Auckland alone for a similar sum and was, it was understood, m negotiation some time ago with persons m other places desirous of purchasing concessions. Various- private establishments adopted the new light, and all seemed to be going smoothly. But some hitch has evidently arisen, or ere this so cheap a means of illumination must have been m a fair way n of general adoption, and if we are correctly informed the hitch is of a two-fold nature. First, it is said that the rights under Hooker's system had been previously acquired elsewhere, and next that Hookei's system has not proved satisfactory upon a more extended trial, our informant stating that those who had adop ed it have abandoned it and reverted to ordinary ■ coal gas. We do not assert positively that this is so, but have no reason to - doubt the correctness of the information,which is presumptively corroborated by the fact that all interest m the Hooker system appears to have died out. It, however, seems to be clear that Mr Hooker was on the right track 5 m his quest of a cheap illuminaut, if not f wholly successful m his method, the . problem having apparently been solved > most completely and satisfactorily by an > American inventor, aMrJ. J. Johnson, 1 of Columbiana, Ohio. A special des--1 patch to the " Chicago Tribune," dated Canton, Ohio, November 19, says : — " Mr Johnson has been working on the invention for some time, and has succeeded m perfecting his process to such an extent that wonderful results were accomplished. The principle of the machine is a system of siphons, and air is forced alternately through water and through oil, resulting m gas. The tests made by Mr Johnson with the machine first finished by him resulted m getting 450,000 cubic feet of gas from a barrel of cil. Aiter this immense quantity of gas has been made, the residue of oil as a lubricator is said to be worth as much as the barrel of oil originally. It is cheaper than daylight, for after getting the light and fuel you have the original value of material you get it from. Mr Johnson made a trip to Boston and had a conference with capitalists regarding the sale of ihe right to the invention. After his representations chemists from Harvard College were sent to Columbi?na to investigate. They reported favorably upon it, and Johnson was given i,000,000d0l for the right m the United States, wuh the exception of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Later he sold the right to these four States, with the exception of Columbiana County, to a.. Pittsburg syndicate for 500,000d01. The men from Boston who examined the machine said that when perfected no doubt a million feet of gas could be produced from a barrel of oil. As an illurninant it is said to be far superior to the gas manufactured under the ordinary process, and as a fuel is vastly better than natural gas. Its heat is intense. A bar of lead was thrust into the blaze and immediately fell apart. From a pipe from Johnson's laboratory issues a blaze eight feet long that /nakes an intensely brilliant light." The "Tribune" says that the parties who have gained control of the process have been endeavoring to keep it quiet until they were ready to begin operations, and adds that when knowledge of the invention gets abroad it is expected to create a sensation, as it will completely revolutionise the matter of fuel and lighting.