There was a time, and not so long ago, when the torch bearer was as important as the taxicab driver of to-day. His torch light flitted about the dark streets of city and town to light citizen and traveler on his way. Until a century ago the torch was a chief means of outdoor lighting and the bearer was a necessary personage. But science is cruel to the few and magnani mous to the multitude. A single scientific discovery took the torch from the hand of its bearer and placed it back of the door to ac cumulate the evidences of disuse. This scientific discovery was gas. And gas was laughed at as a foolish fancy—something mere ly to be played with for amuse ment. The torch bearer scoffed, and the people believed he was right in his scoffing. "Surely this personage of thousands of years cannot be sup planted now by a mere toy," they said. That was a century ago. Look about you. It does not occur to you. now to question the practic ability and economy of gas for lighting the streets and the houses. Yet, no one could foresee what you can see to-day, and you can not foresee what the next gener ation will see, but do not take the attitude of the torch bearer and refuse to see what is actually at hand. Gas has experienced marvelous development. When gas became practical as an illuminant, it was looked upon merely as an illu- HARRISBURG OAS COMPANY 14 South Market Square ■ < _ ..... . "■ ... ... minant, because it had been sought tor to fill that great void, but other voids than darkness have developed. The cost of fuel and power has opened new avenues for the econ omical use of gas until it is in de mand in over a thousand differ ent ways in the home, store and factory. Gas is capable of effect ing every branch of home and in dustrial life, and it is to the ad vantage of all who need light, heat or power to understand the many uses of gas. So in this story we are going to discuss some of the most vital points and uses of gas and tell how the Harrisburg Gas Com pany handles the gas situation. Gas in the Home Gas is one of th© most potent forces in home life to-day. Its importance as a home factor has been the result of careful development, and the element of economy has been uppermost in the minds of the scientists who have ef fected the many appliances and acces sories. Convenience is only for those who can afford it, is an often repeated statement. There has never been a doubt about the convenience of gas. In every respect it overshadows the appliances which were in use in the home before it came. For this reason gas appliances are in demand in all branches of home life as soon as they are ready for the market. The main concern of gas companies and manufacturers of appliances was that each and every appliance should be more economical than Its less con venient competitors, and economy has been developed In practically every appliance offered for use in the resi dence. Cooking With Gas The first field, after light, In which gas excelled for use In the home was as a cooking fuel. Years ago gas ranges were developed, which were more economical even for the average housekeeper and far mora so for the woman who had learned the best methods of using the gas range. The recent development of newer and better types of ranges has given gas still further advantages of econ omy as a cooking fuel. The sim plicity and convenience of these ranges makes it possible for the housewife to exercise many hints in saving. It is not difficult to learn how to use the gas range economically as it is merely a matter of cooking practical ly everything in the baking and broil ing ovens while doing the baking, broiling and roasting. In its efforts to help the house keeper to minimize her cooking fuel cost, the Harrisburg Gas Company maintains a special corps of instruc tors who go to the residences of con sumers when requested and there demonstrate the best and most econ omical use of gas. Heating Water With Gas The success of the gas range, its economy and satisfying results for the housekeeper, opened a new field for gas as a fuel. The question now was one of heating water economical ly so the housewife could banish for ever the coal bucket, kindling box and the ash pan. The gas circulating water heater was soon developed to fill this demand, and it has proved especially adaptable because It can be adjusted to the hot water tank form erly used with a coal range. With this water heater the house keeper can heat enough water In a few minutes for the dish washing, and even enough for a bath can be heat ed for less than a cent's worth of gas, and there is no bother with coal fires. Automatic Gas Water Heaters The Automatic Instantaneous Gas Water Heater is one of the most as tonishing of all gas appliances. It is so accurate in Its results that it is almost human. In fact, it never for gets and the human Is liable to for get. It requires no thought on the part of the housekeeper and is al ways ready for service. The automatic Is placed in the cel lar. When a hot water faucet is open in the bath room, kitchen or laundry the gas Is automatically turned on faARRISBURG &££s& TELEGRAPH and lighted, and the water is heated Instantly as It passes through a long copper coll. The closing of the hot water faucet Instantly shuts off the gas and expense stops. The Harrlsburg Gas Company, and the water heater companies as well, backs this heater with its guaran tee, and what the company guaran tees, it makes satisfactory. The economy and convenience of this water heater has given its exten sive sales in all cities because hot water is as necessary In the home as heat, and It is a great convenience to be able to get hot water Instantly at any time of the day or night without the bother or worry of starting the Are. Gas Appliances The development in the use of gas 'ln residences did not cease after the Invention of these most necessary ap pliances. Invention marched steadily on until there is a gas appliance for nearly every purpose, which gives more convenience and more economy than can be furnished by any other form of heat or llluminant. Where the housewife formerly used 5 or 10 cents' worth of fuel for her ironing, she can do it with a gas Iron tc-day at a cost of one-third of a cent an hour, or about 1 cent for the three hours' Ironing. Thousands of these gas irons are being used In the homes of Harrlsburg people with moro satisfactory results than were obtainable in the days of the old flat iron. Coffee percolators, chafing dishes, toasters, waffle irons, cake griddles and a variety of other small appli ances and accessories find their place in modern Harrlsburg residences. , Few residents would think of dis continuing the use of gas for light ing. Both the illuminont itself and the lamps and fixtures used in con nection with it are deserving of the term "modern." The clear, white gas lieht can be had from an Incandescent gas lamp at approximately one-third of a cent an hour. It is always neces sary to have a good gas light for read lng and all close work. When the modern type of gas lamps are used the consumer has the comfort of a light that Is restful and easy on the eyes.. Gas in the Industries In its industrial uses gas is just now assuming the place it should have taken years ago. The invention of gas engines, furnaces, burners, boiler heaters, forges, etc., has made gas practically indispensable in many manufacturing plants. This is especial ly true where speed, economy and ac curacy 'of results are demanded. Many of the leading manufacturing plants of the city either use gas as their only fuel, or for the greater part of their work. As power for operating engines, gas 'las especially proved its efficiency. Recent developments in the construc tion of gas engines have made them so economical In consumption and so reliable In operation that they are fast replacing other engines. For special application, gas seems to have no limitations. New industrial fields are opening daily and gas com panies are being called upon con stantly to perfect the engine,, special burners or heater to meet the de mand. « Steam in many manufacturing plants must be kept going in sum mer when other demands upon the boiler are very small. For this pur pose a little gas heated steam boiler from one-half horsepower to ten horsepower is on the market. Many trades have adopted these. Automo bile and repair shops use gas heated steam boilers for vulcanizing tires; bakeries for steaming ovens and crust ing bread; brewers and bottlers for sterlizing bottles, pasteurizing liquids, distilling water; confectioners, for cooking candles; cleaners and dyers for heating benzine and drying rooms; electrical goods manufacturers for drying motor armatures; hat manu facturers for heating molds; jewelers for baking enamel and cleaning jewelry; laundries for heating mangles and drying rooms; metal workers for heating lye kettles, etc.; paper box manufacturers and book binders for heating glue; printers and newspa pers for matrix drying and restaur ants and hotels for heating steam tables, etc. The bakeries which furnish the city with bread, cakes, pies, etc., are de pendent upon gas bake ovens and steaming tables. Leather goods und shoe manufacturers are dependent upon It for stamping, edging, etc. Tailors in every part of the city use ?as heated Irons for pressing and clothing manufacturers find a Hoff man Pressing Machine a decided ad vantage because of Its speed. All textile manufacturers have found gas the most desirable fuel for singeing. Tinsmiths and sheet metal workers use gas for soldering and shaping parts. In all big machine shops and paint shops paint burning torches are used for removing paint. In fact, gas has taken its place as an indispensable part of nearly every Industry and has done much to per fect construction and bring down shop costs and expenses. Making Ice With the Gas Flame It seems unbelievable that ice can be made with a tiny gas flame. Tet, this Is being done to-day. Small re frigerating plants are being placed in a box-like arrangement, similar to an Ice chest, which are capable of keep ing the temperature down as low as zero. And there are small compart ments in which ice may be frozen for table use or for other purposes. These lVttle plants are proving economical and may soon relieve the housewife, the hotel keeper and confectioner of their troubles with the iceman. Anoth er unusual invention recently placed upon the market Is the Ives Daylight Producer Cabinet. Thousands of these little cabinets are being sold to manufacturers of silk, cotton, woolen and all other goods and textiles, to merchants, haberdasheries, and all other industries which find It neces ary to match colors. The cabinet is arranged so that a strong gas light is passed through a series of screens which eliminate all rays which are not found In ordinary daylight. The particular advantage of the cabinet Is that color matching may be' done accurately whatever tho condition of ordinary light. Store and Industrial Light ing Gas is the most economical light 1 for stores and manufacturing plants. The gas arc gives an enormous vol ume of light at far smaller cost than any other llluminant, and, because of this economy, gas la most general ly used in the Harrlsburg lighting field. The Harrisburg Gas Com pany The present gas company has been 1 furnishing gas to Harrisburg for thirty-one years. During that time the company has steadily increased its et» flciency and broadened lta service. At all times the gas company has been a moving spirit in the civic improve ment of Harrlsburg, and It has dona everything in its power to help make Harrlsburg grow. In every respect the company htl attempted to co-operate with the cltj] government. During the last ten yearn over seventy miles of streets have been improved in Harrlsburg. In ord< er that these streets might not be dis turbed the company preceded the lnv* provements with fh-st-class mains oa the proper levels. This was done aM an enormous cost, because many o< the mains which had to be repl&oed were good for several years»of ser vice, but the gas company felt thai It was for the good of Harrlsbura and Its business as well, that the ser« vice mains be as perfect as possible before the streets were completed. In addition to furnishing gas tm Harrlsburg, the following'suburbs re ceive Harrlsburg Gas Company ser« vice: Steelton, Mlddletown, Hlghspiret Oberlin and Enhaut, East Harrisburg; New Cumberland, Penbroolt, Lew moyne. New Market, Camp Hill, P&x* tang, East Pennsboro and Wormleya burg. Extensions are now contemplated to Enola and Fairvlew. The progressive, up-to-date man* agements of the men who have been in charge of the gas company has given the people of Harrisburg a gas service which even the largest cities of the country might well emulate. The company has extended its mains to leach nearly every part of the city until now it has practically 185 miles of mains in Harrisburg and sur rounding districts. Three years ago it was necessary for the company to construct a new holder as the two old holders could barely take care of the consumption- When this ques tion confronted the company it was thought best to install one immense holder of 1,500.000 cubic feet, be cause such a holder would insure a highly satisfactory pressure and a more steady and oven gas service than several smaller tanks, so the large holder was installed. No institution in Harrisburg to-day, gives the people a better, more con stant and more courteous service than the Harrisburg Gas Company, and the company is always wide awake to suggestions for improvements of Its service, and keeps its men keyed to the point of doing the right thing by the people at all times.
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