The policy of gas companies with regard to electric light has, with
few exceptions, been a state of indifference to the progress of
things electric, with contempt for a rival whose opposition is not
sufficiently powerful to be appreciated. The chairman of a well-known
gas company stated, what is undisputed,—that the introduction of
electric arc lights was accompanied by an increased consumption of gas
in the immediate neighbourhood where these lights are used; but it is
very doubtful whether this will be the case when incandescent lights
are generally supplied. The introduction of these lights into any
business district would mean the displacement of at least as many
burners as there are electric lamps; and this reduction not only
means loss of income, but also loss by interest on plant which is not
kept at work to the capacity for which it was designed. The question
suggests itself, “Are existing gas companies more favourably situated
for furnishing electricity than any one else?” There are many reasons
in favour of the supposition that the directors of gas companies have
at the present time an opportunity of acquiring almost as complete a
monopoly of lighting by electricity as they have with gas. As regards
central-stations, everything is in their favour; there is generally
some spare ground for the machinery, waste heat could be utilised, and
a cheap fuel in the shape of coke is ready to hand. They have greater
facilities for breaking up streets without danger of troubles arising
with the local authorities, and if the Gasworks Clauses Acts, which
authorise their existence, tie them down to one illuminant, a very
little expenditure would enable them to enlarge their powers. In many
towns the shareholders are local men who wish to use the electric
light, but cannot favour its introduction because they think it would
tend to smaller dividends or lower quotations for their shares; if,
however, a scheme was promoted either by the gas company, or, if that
was impossible, if the directors interested themselves in a separate
electric light undertaking, the security which the gas and water
investments command would, no doubt, cause a sufficient number of local
subscribers to come forward and make even a small installation a paying
concern. The Imperial Continental Gas Association have already taken
up the supply of electricity in Vienna, and are likely to extend this
new branch of their business to the other cities in which they hold
gas concessions; also in the United States the growing opposition of
the electric light companies is being seriously discussed, and already
several gas companies are installing electric light plants.
It is not at all probable that the scare which caused such a drop
in the value of gas shares when the electric light first appeared
will be repeated, but the present high price of gas shares cannot
be maintained. Kerosene lamps have been for some time a far greater
rival to gas than electricity. The cheapening of petroleum, which is
now shipped in bulk to this country in tank steamers, will cause the
consumption to increase, and enable the oil to be supplied at a price
so that it can be used in petroleum-engines, and give a motive power
which will be found to be far more economical than the gas-engine.
The latest development of petroleum-engines is that shown by Messrs.
Priestman at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Show at Nottingham. The
engine in external appearance is like the Otto gas-engine, but uses the
ordinary “paraffin oil” of commerce, which has a high flashing point.
The oil is simply put into a closed tank, and on the top of this, air
is forced which drives the petroleum into a chamber heated by the
exhaust from the engine, where it is partially vaporised and led into
the cylinder with sufficient air to cause it to ignite by means of an
electric spark.
The report of the trials with a 5 horse-power engine show that a brake
horse-power was obtained for 1·7 lb. of oil, or at 6½_d._ per gallon
for 1·4_d._ per horse-power per hour; with the Spiel engine the cost is
stated to be 0·8_d._ per horse-power per hour.
Any serious reverse to the gas industry would cause a great pecuniary
loss to a large number of investors. The paid-up and borrowed capital
devoted to the manufacture and supply of gas in the United Kingdom
exceeds £56,000,000, of which above £36,000,000 appertain to the
companies and the remainder to the local authorities, whose receipts in
respect of their gas undertakings last year exceeded £4,400,000.
The corporation of Bradford, who are owners of the gasworks, have
wisely foreseen that it is better to keep the electric light in their
own hands, and are now about to erect a central-station, and will
lay underground wires; the amount sanctioned for this preliminary
installation is £20,000.