19 7717

ol a small state. The Gas Companys authorized capital s nearly 12000000 T 16 revente aceount shows an Sl cxpenditure of /£ 2.8gg.000, and in- come ol /. 3.073. 100, leaving about three: dquarters cba nnllion net profit s 1t emplovs L1,000 men; supplics gas to 220,000 private consumers, 082 churches and chapels. 530 rathway stations and signal-boxes, 297 hotels, 2600 Government and municipal offices. 260 banks and branches. 175 hospitalsc and any number of prisons, bharracks, theatres, palaces, clubs, markets, cte. 50.351 & Il

Laght and Coke

Its street numhber length of mais s, roughly speaking, 2000 miles: and s district s about nme-tenths of London north of the Thames, and a considerable arca south of it [ts chiel works are at Beckton, where nearly hall s gas s made, s capable of turning out 50! leet o dave has carbonized 31,000 tons of coal m a week. and can store 200,000 lons on its grounds. Here are the cas-works - the world, and Beck- Onois obviously the place to make for 1t we would sce all there s to he o seen of the process of Cas manu- acture, The first I pPression

m losse. Boeckton milhon culne

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DRAWING THLE RISTe

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works s Beckton looks o

at these one of - bewilderment, jumble of huge plain brick huildings, of sasholders, of pipes. of and ol heaps ol coal, coke as brecezes For the

ralwans, soand o dust known concentrated essence of the ugly and unprepossessing, commend us Lo an extensive gas-works. However, we are here toseek not fine effeets but information. and the mitial question: that we have to put to our kindlyv guide s mx[mul by the sight of aosmall engine, drageing a train of trucks on i clevated ulway. Tt comes along snorting and pufling, and dives into one ol the plaim brick houses just mentioned, lhl()ll“h A hole in the wall some 250t above the level of the around.

A minute later another train moves along the rails at our fectc and we are pere ml)t(ml\ warned to look oute * Beware of the trains * s mseription to be found on walls high

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CHAVRG o RETOIC =,

and low throughout the Beekton Works, and the mjunction 1s not unnceded. The place 1s simply a network of rails. and traims at times pass over one’s head

and under once’s feet with startling requency. The former are bringing coal from the pier at the Thames side,

and the latter are removing the coke which has recently been taken from the retorts. Let us go to the pier and follow the whole business throughout s various stages.