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1880 - 1889
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| 1880s |
Development of Pocahontas Coal of West Virginia; Highest-grade bituminous variety. Development of undergraduate gas engineering programs in U.S. colleges and appearance of graduate consulting gas engineers in the United States. Decade of great development for telephone and electricity. |
| 1880 |
State-of-art production of gas from coal was at 4.75 cf/lb. coal. Arrival of Pintsch (German) railway oil-gas technology in the U.S. U.S. gas-plant ammonia begins to be captured for ammonium sulphate fertilizer. George Livesey delivers Gasholder-tanks; Difficulties and mistakes in their construction. Invention of compressor for natural gas pipeline application; Bradford Gas Co., Rixford, PA Suction-gas producer perfected, for variable supply to large (> 16 hp) producer-gas engines. Steel-mill furnace producer gas in use to drive on-site gas engines in Germany. Germany introduces brilliant cloth dyes to China; Originates and commands world dye industry. Introduction of electric arc lights in America & worldwide; Cleveland, OH, arc lights by Brush Electric Co.; Placed on tall towers at major downtown street intersections in large cities. |
| 1881 |
Germany usurps England in production of coal tar and light oils. World's largest gas holder at London) completed, 5,400,000 cf, 213 ft diameter, 3 lifts @ 55 ft. Considerable talk in American gas industry to capture gas-making residuals as by-products. First burner for incandescent gas light invented by W.M. Jackson, in U.S.; Light enhancement by fine platinum wire; Intense competition ensues, worldwide for a better gas-light burner. |
| 1882 |
Introduction of incandescent electric lighting; Perceived economic threat to gas lighting companies; soon embraced cross-ownership, between gas and electric companies. Formation of United Gas Improvement Company, at Philadelphia; world's first utility holding company; Acquires Lowe's carburetted water gas patents; Mission " to construct, maintain and manage any work, furnish all necessary implements of any kind, to hold and own securities in any form, either as collateral or otherwise, and dispose of same.". Installation of first coke by-product works; Britain and Germany; Favorably priced to discourage similar development in U.S. Cooper's patented coal-liming process enjoys brief popularity; To reduce quantity of impurities. U.S. Geological Survey begins annual reports on the American coke industry. First American hydroelectric power, Appleton, WI. Edison Electric Light Company consolidates its competition. |
| 1883 |
Pintsch railroad oil gas lighting and plants introduced to U.S. from Germany. Naphthalene was a prime problem for gas makers; Caused stoppages; Exhausters said useful. U.S. gas-plant ammonia becoming utilized in manufacture of ice (Louisville, KY). West's (UK) stoking and drawing machines now powered by steam, compressed air, or rope. UGI (Philadelphia) spawns Pacific Gas Improvement Co. (San Francisco), which goes on to eventual control manufactured and natural gas in Los Angeles. Standard Oil Company (NJ) begins to position itself by buying into or controlling water-gas and oil-gas companies for favorable sales and returns on its refined oil for enrichment. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company expands to Chicago & San Francisco. |
| 1884 |
U.S. gas plants reputedly pass 700 in operating numbers; Price drops below $2.50/Mcf. Average U.S. coal-gas retort was 9.0 feet in length, by 14x24-inch Dee-shaped, 3-8 sets per bench; 3-5/bench in smaller works; 6-8/bench in large works; retorts no longer typically of iron construction; Now fire bricks. World's first high-pressure gas distribution system installed by Oakland Gas, Light & Heat Company, Oakland, California. Invention of Welsbach incandescent gas lighting mantle at Vienna, Austria, by Dr. Karl Auer, who later received the Austrian social appellation of "von Welsbach"; Welsbach Street Lighting Company of America; Acquired by UGI in 1887; Dissolves 1940. Manchester (UK) Corporation Gas Committee approves renting of cooking stoves to customers. Smoke Abatement Exhibition held at London, UK. |
| 1885 |
Machinery begins to supplant human labor in charging and discharging coal-gas plants; impetus comes from Britain. Klonne invents the recuperator by which spent retort heat is routed to heat incoming secondar air supplies in coal gas retorts. Massachusetts Gas Commission becomes first U.S. State gas regulatory body. Beginning U.S. use of iron oxide absorbent for H2S; Outperforms slaked lime purification. U.S. gas companies promoting manufactured gas for domestic heating and cooking. |
| 1886 |
Competition among multiple opposition gas companies had resulted in consolidation in 20 larger American cities with attendant overall increases in gas prices. Coal-tar used as macadam streets at Washington, D.C.; Proved "unreliable"; Most American roads were unsurfaced or unpaved. First electric generating station, as powered by gas engines, at Dessau, Germany. Chicago claims the most electricity utilized in one place on earth. First U.S. commercial alternating current (AC) generating station, Great Barrington, MA. Karl Benz powers an auto-motive vehicle by Otto producer-gas engine converted to burn benzene. |
| 1887 |
Brown's Directory of American Gas Companies begins publication at New York City, NY. Welsbach makes strong improvements to increase gas-mantle life and UGI, Philadelphia, buys North American rights and begins strong marketing and constructs a factory at Gloucester, NJ in 1890. Emergence of strong U.S. market for coal-tar, where transportation and supply were favorable. First American gas appliance store opens at Providence, Rhode Island |
| 1888 |
Lowe carburetted water gas introduced to UK by British Water Gas Syndicate at Leeds Forge. Leon P. Lowe secures oil-gas patents for no. 2 fuel oil and for crude oil; Constructs fuel-oil gas plant at Colorado Springs, Co.; Lowe had also constructed the first crude-oil gas plant in the world, at Lynn, Massachusetts, but this plant did not go on line. Lowe moves to Los Angeles in the same year and builds the first such operable plant. Formation of General Electric Company as master Edison utility holding company, NYC, NY. Formation of Stone & Webster, Boston, engineers, constructors, owners & operators of many manufactured gas & electric plants. |
| 1889 |
Laclede Gas Light Company (third gas company in City) consolidates and takes over as monopoly for gas supply.
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