"Air Gas."

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 174, 11 March 1873, Page 7

"Air Gas."

When the Nelson gas works were projected, the authorities of that city were recommended by the English firm of contractors whom they had consulted to defer putting their project into operation, until such time as they ascertained the result of a new and important invention that was then about to be registered in England, and was expected to effect a complete revolution in the manner of manufacturing gas. The new invention was shortly afterwards desoribed in our columns, and its aim was to substitute for coal gas another substance of smaller cost of production and higher illuminating power, to be known in the future as " air gas." We see by the Home papers that the invention is likely to be at once tested. In a recent issue of Mitchell's Maritime Register appears the prospectus of a company called, "The Air-Gas-light Company (Limited)," with a capital of £200,000 in 40,000 shares of £5 each, and with an influential directory. The principal points of the prospectus are thus summarised: " The cost of coal-gas for the United Kingdom is stated to be more than £21,000,000 per annum, whilst air-gas in equal quantities could not cost more than £14,000,000. We are informed that there are no limits to the production and employment of this gas. It may be made in the most remote places for lighting churches, country mansions, farms, schools, and manufactories, which have hitherto been precluded by the cost of pipes from enjoying the advantage of gas illumination. It may be used for lighting ships, maritime lights, towns, or the most extensive cities. The advantages which distinguish air-gas are stated to be its comparative cheapness, superior brilliancy, greater purity, universality of application, and its capability of being employed as an economic and powerful auxiliary by coal-gas companies, whose meters, mains, and pipes may be used without additional expense for storage and transmission of the the mixed air and local gases. A patent for the United Kingdom has been secured, and steps have been taken for acquiring patents in foreign countries."