Gas And Electricity

jur. oiemens in jus aaarcss 10 me British association rnade some almost startling referenccs to the probabilities of gas and electricity in the future in its relation to industrial affairs. Dr. Siemens deyoted himself to the future and applied his horóscopo to a forocast of what is to take place in the rapid developmeut of science, a work for which ho is peculiarly fitted. The portion of his address devoted to coal containi soine almost startling information. Taking the coal used in the manufacture of cas at 9,000,000 tons, worth $27,000,000, Dr. Siemens showed in the following table tho value of its waste products: Coloring matter ior dyes $17,750,000 Manurc (sulphate of ammonial) 9,735,000 Pitch (32ö,0U0 tons) l,S25,OO0 Creosote (5,000,000 gallons) 1,040,000 Oude carbolie acid 500,000 Gas coke, at 12s. a ton (4,000,000 tons aftcr alloiring 2,000,000 tons for working rr.torts) 12,000,000 Total $42,850,000 The statement shows that the waste pioducts are $15,858,000 more valuable Iban the eoal itself - a contrast which wil] spur up chemistry to a more thorough investigación The doctor went stiïl ftirther in his review óf waste produets, and showed that the weight of the soot hanging over London on a winter's day was öOtons, and the poisonous carbonic oxide in the air five times that amount. All this is not only going to waste, but is making othor thintrs go to waste, such as human works and human ife, and all these waste products he beieves could be turned to useful purposes.. More than this, he believes that all this waste can be avoided bv tising gas a,s the heating power instead of raw coal. A pound of gas gives forth just twice as mucu as a pound of coal, so that burning raw coal he claims is sqnandering our inheritance. By quitting its use he maintains that science wili "banish the black pall of srnoke which hangs over our great cities and restore to them pure air, bright sunshine and blue skios;'' and this gas he claims will bc mamifactured at the bottom of the mine and distributed therefrom by pipes, thus doing away wifh gasometers altogether By the unionof gasandelectricity Dr. Siemens belioves that the steam engino will be doomed. For a time it may be used to drive largo dynamo-machines, which will tako the place of numerous small steam engines, but ultimately the steam engine will be superceded by the fas engine. "Gas and electricity may e mutually hostile, but they are to unite their forces in order to extirpato the steam engine. The unpardonablé sin of the steam engine is that of waste. Even tho best of them consumo two ponnds of coal per horse power per hour, wheroas when the gas producer has taken the place of the complex and dangerous steam boiler it will not take one pound of coal to develope ono horso power for one hour." As to the competition beUveen gas and electricity Dr. Siemens believes thal the lattor will be used for lighting public places, but that gas will st'ill be tho "poor man's friend. Electricity will light our streets, but gas will be used for almost all our household purposes, including cooking. He does not think that electric railways are going to supercede steam railways for a very long time to come, though the electric motor will be of groat advantago to agriculture, and has a great futuro before it _______