GAS V. ELECTRICITY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5422, 2 August 1906, Page 4

GAS V. ELECTRICITY.

A etrikuag feature of Ike new Vic toriti railway isolation (London), an important section of which is opened ■o-'day for local traffic (says the London Observer of June 10), is the effective maimer in which it is lighted, dradually in recent years gas has neen ousting electricity us a lighting itower, but rarely so successfully ns in the ease of London’s new terminus. •Single burner lamps of 300 and 500 candle-power have been installed, and the effect is to 'throw on tko platform a light entirely without shadow, and at the same time, judging from last night’s trial, a soft, steady, and evenly diffused light,, certainly superior to ■the are electric lighting that was at ■me time in general use. In considering the ’question of lightug, the directors of the Brighton line had to decide between high-pres-mre gas lighting and live “flame” arc lumps, and their decision, as we have seen, like that of the North London Hallway 'in respect of Broad street station, was in favor of gas. This decision was influenced by the fact that in their old Victoria station they have been saving more than £IOOO a year, in addition to obtaining unimproved light, by substituting ordinary pressure gus lumps for .arc lamps supplier! with current at about 2d per 'mil.

The cflleicncy of gas is doubled by increasing the pressure to the •qulva-lt-nt of about 50 inches of water instead of the ordinary two trflchw. So I'hal, although electricity was on offer al only a little marc than a penny a unit, ilie company 'decided that high pressure gas lighting would be more economical as well as more reliable and better diffused than electric light, even at the very low price mentioned.