atmospheric disturbance. This was particularly noticeable in Camden (where they experienced a cyclone), as all the electric lights were extinguished, while the Siemens lamps employed in lighting the ferry slips remained in operation. Mr. Pearson's difficulties are hardly chargeable to us. His experience dates back to the time before the Siemens burners were manufactured in this country. I believe the best indication of the success of our lamp is found in the fact that, during the short period of our business existence, we have over 3,000 of them in use.

Prof. DOUGLAS-During this discussion I have referred to my memorandum book in which I have some figures touching the points under discussion. In our town (Ann Arbor, Mich.) we have two electric lighting companies, one of which may be classed under the Brush system, the other following the Edison plan. The Brush Company's business comes mainly from the street lights. About a month ago I put up a Siemens lamp— one of the large size-and I have made some figures concerning it. It consumes 35 cubic feet per hour. I find that the electric lighting company's street lamp schedule shows an annual total of 1,240 hours of burning, and for that lighting they receive $120 per light per annum. Multiply that schedule by 35 and you will obtain a quantity of 43,400 cubic feet of gas that will be consumed in the Siemens burner over an equal period of time. Thus you have a simple comparison as to the relative cost. The electric light at Ann Arbor costs $120 per year, and gives a light equal to that produced by 43,400 cubic feet of gas consumed in a Siemens burner-which latter, I think, gives a very good light, and a light which certainly is more diffusive. Indeed, I think it is acknowledged in our town to be more satisfactory. As to difficulties encountered in the use of the Siemens burner, I may say that I have encountered them to some extent; but the trouble is not serious.

Upon motion of Mr. Neal, a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Stein.

APPOINTING A COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS.

The President here appointed Messrs. W. K. Park, W. H. White, F. A. Dingee, E. H. McCullough, John McIlhenny, and Secretary C. J. R. Humphreys, as a Committee of Arrangements for next annual meeting.

SECOND DAY-AFTERNOON SESSION.

President Vanderpool announced that, in the absence of the writer—Mr. J. H. Walker, of Rochester, N. Y.-the paper on

NAPHTHALINE

would be read by Mr. J. H. Walker, Jr. That gentleman read as follows:

The question contained in our Secretary's circular of September 25—“ "How can the trouble from naphthaline be avoided?"— implies that some of our friends are still bothered by that beautiful but terribly annoying substance. Without entering into any scientific explanation of what it is, and ignoring an analysis of the conditions most favorable to its production, I will attempt to answer the question as to how it may be alleviated by giving you my experience in dealing with the pest, and detailing to you how I managed to rid myself of a nuisance and utilize it as a valuable enricher. I will try to give as concisely as possible my experience with it during the past four years.

I first formed its acquaintance about 25 years ago, when I met with it in the shape of a deposit of beautiful white flakes that filled up the inlet to holder at a point about six feet below top of the water tank. Since that time I have encountered it in many forms, and in all sorts of places. I have found it black in color and looking like tar; but when a jet of steam was played upon it it vaporized, and then crystallized, falling to the ground like a shower of pure snow.

In October, 1881, or when I took charge of the Citizens of Rochester plant, the mains were partially filled almost from the works to the extreme end of distribution. I freed a portion of them by using superheated steam and petroleum naphtha; but soon found the trouble was so widespread that I did not consider it advisable to continue the steaming operation, and so started three retorts making gas from crude petroleum. A note in my book reads: "Started three retorts making gas from crude petroleum December 31; and by 6th of January had full pressure on all over the city." The gas made during that

period was of about 22 candles. A test made at the time, by passing 20-candle gas through a glass tube filled with naphthaline, at the rate of four feet per hour, showed that the entire body of naphthaline was taken up in 15 hours. The following year we had a similar experience. One serious stoppage then occurred in a 12-inch main, and was conquered in the following manner: I stripped the main at four points, in about a distance of 100 feet from the stoppage, on the works side. Before lighting time a wood fire was made over each of the four uncovered portions of the pipe, and I then slowly poured five gallons of petroleum naphtha into the nearest lamp service.

This ran

through the heated parts of pipe, was converted into vapor, carried toward the city with the gas, and in three hours' time the pressure gauge bore witness to the fact that the stoppage was ended.

At this point I may as well state that our washing and condensing apparatus consisted of-first, a washer placed about 15 feet from the hydraulic main; it was a cylinder 3 feet in diameter and 12 feet in height. The gas and water entered this vessel at the top, and (both traveling in the same direction) coming out at the bottom, entered the condensers, which were multitubular, and were set as close to the washer as connections would admit of. Through these condensers the gas had to travel 64 feet, thence to the exhauster, purifier and meter. I think this was an admirably arranged apparatus to produce naphthaline, for it showed itself at all seasons about the worksin the purifiers, and at inlet and outlet of holders.

In the summer of 1883 I converted the washer (before spoken of) into a hot scrubber, by placing about 50 feet of 3/4-inch pipe in its interior. This was made into three coils or gridirons, placed about 3 feet apart, and at right angles to the axis of the cylinder, covering them to the depth of about 6 inches with the chips or clippings from the tin shop, firmly packed together. This was done to give surface.

It was so arranged that we could use one, two, or three of the coils. We started, with steam on all the coils, on September 4, 1883. From that date to the present we have never seen any naphthaline in our mains, or about our works, unless the steam was turned off the hot scrubber-which happened accidentally

on one occasion during repairs to the pipe, and naphthaline then showed in the purifiers.

We have since intentionally repeated this accidental experiment, and invariably found the same results. This Fall some traces have been reported in service pipes; but this I can easily account for, through the steam having been partly turned off from the hot scrubber.

As I have already stated, we are entirely clear of naphthaline, and this is not all. We have not used a pound of cannel coal or any other enricher, and the candle power of our gas has been from 16 to 18 candles (frequently it is as high as 20 at the office) when tested about one mile from the works.

These facts are easily accounted for when you consider the quantity of naphthaline produced per ton of coal carbonized. Please to note the fact that no tar passes through the hot scrubber but that which is carried over in the form of vapor (or in a finely divided state) by the gas in mechanical suspension. It contains a large percentage of rich hydrocarbon, which, coming in contact with the steam pipes, is eliminated and taken up by the light hydrogen; and, from the evidence before us, is conveyed to the consumers. I am satisfied, from experiments made, that if we had some cheap process by which a comparatively pure article of hydrogen could be produced, we could largely increase our yield per pound of coal, and also retain a high standard of illuminating power for our gas without the use of cannel, oil, or naphtha enrichers.

I think I have, in a plain, practical way, not only answered the question as to how this trouble may be alleviated, but have also shown how it can be no longer considered a trouble, but rather a benefit, to the gas manufacturer.

Twelve years ago, at the first meeting of this Association, held in Cleveland, Ohio, we expressed the hope that the attention of gas engineers would be turned to this matter of naphthalinenot with the view of destroying it, but that it might be utilized as an enricher, as it contained all the elements essential to that purpose.

On motion of Mr. Harbison the thanks of the Association were tendered to Mr. Walker. Owing to pressure of time M:. Walker's paper was passed without discussion.

In accordance with a motion offered by Capt. White, it was resolved that, owing to lack of time and the absence of the writers, the papers entitled, "Relations of Corporations to the Municipality," by Mr. J. B. Crockett, President of the San Francisco (Cal.) Gas Light Company; and "The Thermophote, or Self-Registering Photometer," by Dr. T. O'Conor Sloane, of New York city, be "taken as read;" also, that the same be printed in the American Gas Light Journal, in the regular order of publication of proceedings. Mr. Crockett's paper is as follows:

RELATIONS OF CORPORATIONS TO THE MUNICIPALITY.

To the Members of the American Gas Light Association :

Gentlemen-I herewith beg to submit for your consideration the following remarks relating to the above named subject. That the State has the power to regulate all corporations, deriving their existence from the organic law regulating the formation of corporations, is a fact which has never been successfully denied ; but it is only within later years that any attempt has been made to regulate the operations of manufacturers, in the matter of saying what price shall be charged either for services performed or commodities furnished.

While corporations have at all times been subjected to such general laws as the State might enact, still there could be no general law passed (in regard to the fixing of any price for gas) which would be either justly or fairly applicable to all the companies operating gas plants in different sections of the State. This is obvious since, with variance in locality, the conditions of manufacture must radically differ, both in regard to amount of gas produced, and dissimilarity in cost of material.

In most of the States the Constitution requires that corporations must be organized under general laws; and this provision has been held to apply, not only to the laws of organization, but also to any subsequent amendment thereto. Many attempts have been made in different State Legislatures to avoid those provisions of the organic law (which require or direct that legislation must be general in its character, and which also forbid anything in the shape or guise of special legislation) by the passage of bills intended only to affect cities having a certain