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Contents
metallurgical operations.—Mode of obtaining it in the gas-lightprocess.—Sort of coke best adapted for kitchen and parlour fires.Manufacture of it. —Coal tar. —How obtained.—Its properties*—Earl of Dundonald’s method of manufacturing tar from coal.—Quantity of coal-tar produced in the gas-light process from agiven quantity of coal.—Characters of coal tar obtained frontNewcastle coal, differ from that produced from canel coal.—Coal pitch. —Process for obtaining it.—Properties of coal-pitch.—Use of it in the arts.—quantity of coal-pitch obtainable from agiven quantity of tar,— Ammoniacal liquor produced during thedistillation of coal.—Its chemical constitution.—Quantity ob-tained from a given quantity of coal.—General observationrespecting the scheme of applying coal-gas as a substitute forcandles and lamps.—Effects which it must produce upon the artsand upon domestic economy.—Its views.—Primary advantages.
■—Resources which it presents to industry andpublic economy.—■In what respect it is entitled to public approbation and nationalencouragement.—Effects of prejudice against the introductionof new and useful discoveries.—Have operated strongly in re-tarding the gas-light illumination.—Remarkable slowness withwhich improvements of extended utility make their way intocommon use, contrasted with the rapid adoption of fashionablechanges.—Other causes unfavourable to the adoption of new anduseful plans.—Further observations on this subject.—The newsystem of lighting with coal-gas can never supersede the use ofcandles and moveable lights.—Gas-light illumination cannotprove injurious to the Greenland fishery—nor can it diminishthe coal trade—must prove beneficial to it.—The price of coaleven when it is the highest cannot materially affect the benefi-cial application of gas-lights.- -Striking advantages to be derivedfrom the introduction of gas-lights into manufactories.—Princi-pal expense which must always attend the gas-light illumination.—Is the dead capital employed for erecting the machinery.—Floating capita! is small.—-Advice to private individuals withregard to the erection of a gas-light apparatus calculated for theirown use.—Expcnce which must attend the application of thenew system of lighting under different circumstances.—Entirenew scheme of illuminating streets, or small towns, with gas-lights ; which would save all the main pipes for conveying thegas through the streets as well as the branch pipes which con-duct the gas to the lamps.—Management of the gas-light ma-chinery is extremely simple and easy.—The apparatus not liableto be out of order.—Observations on the safety of the gas-lightillumination.—Misapprehension of the public concerning it.—Causes that have alarmed the public concerning the applicationof the new lights.-—Gas-lights cannot give rise to those accidentswhich have so often arisen from the careless snuffing of candles,Ac.—-Produce no embers or sparks.—Cannot fall, or be dis-