The oxygen pipe necessary to carry the gas under pressure need not exceed an inch and a half in diameter to supply 5,000 lamps of 2,000 candle power each.  The only reason why this burner has not been further perfected and placed upon the market is because of the continual preoccupation of Prof.  Lowe in other lines of invention, and the amount of attention required by his large business interests.  Besides, the field for its usefulness has been limited, as cheap fuel gas has only just begun to be generally introduced.  Now, however, that extensive preparations are being made for the rapid introduction of the Lowe fuel gas system into various cities, this burner will receive sufficient attention to shortly complete it for general use in large quantities.  It is a more powerful and at the same time a softer light than is the electric incandescent or the arc light.  The light-giving property of a burner of 1,000 candle power would not cost more than one cent for ten hours’ lighting, and the cylinder would only require to be changed once a week; whereas the carbons of arc lights are changed daily.  The cost of the gas required to maintain such a lamp ten hours would be six cents, allowing the same profit on the gas as when it is sold for other heating purposes.  The lamps complete will cost much less than the present electric lamps, and after allowing a large profit to companies supplying them, will not cost consumers more than one-fourth as much as arc lamps, and will give a much clearer and steadier light.

Since Prof.  Lowe perfected his first incandescent burner great progress has been made in this line of invention, and it is no wonder that the attention of the whole gas fraternity of the country has been drawn to the subject of cheap fuel water gas, which is so admirably adapted to all purposes of heat, light, and power.

While there is no doubt that light can be more cheaply produced by incandescence obtained by the use of fuel water gas than by any other means, still a large amount of electric lighting will continue to hold its position, and the electric system will gain ground for many uses.  But the electric light also can be more economically produced when fuel water gas is used as power to revolve the dynamos.  Therefore, we believe it to be for the best interests of every gas company that would move in the line of progress to commence without delay to make preparations for the introduction of fuel water gas, if, at first, only as supplementary to their present illuminating gas business.-Progressive Age.

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PROGRESS OF THE SORGHUM SUGAR INDUSTRY.

We are indebted to Prof.  E.B.  Cowgill, of Kansas, for a copy of his recent report to the Kansas State Board of Agriculture concerning the operations of the Parkinson Sugar Works, at Fort Scott, Kansas.  The report contains an interesting historical sketch of the various efforts heretofore made to produce sugar from sorghum, none of which proved remunerative until 1887, when the persevering efforts of a few energetic individuals, encouraged and assisted by a small pecuniary aid from government, were crowned with success, and gave birth, it may justly be said, to a new industry which seems destined shortly to assume gigantic proportions and increase the wealth of the country.