GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY. This London public utility company, working under Act of Parliament, had in 1928 an issued capital of over £35,000,000, and employed 20,000 men, whose interest in the company under its co-partnership scheme was £738,000. It was granted a royal charter in 1812, but for many years had to face serious competition.
In 187o the City of London and Great Central companies were amalgamated with the old chartered company, and in the next six years the company's position was consolidated by a further series of amalgamations to be followed later by those with the London Gas Light company (1883), with the West Ham com pany (1910), with the Barking & Chigwell and Loughton & Wood ford companies (1912), with the Ilford company (1922) and with the Brentford company (1926). About the same time began the more detailed regulation of the company by parliament, under which, inter alia, the dividends now decrease as the price of gas increases, and vice versa, while the quality of the gas supplied is continually tested by a staff of public officers.
In the early years gas was used almost wholly for lighting, but the invention of the incandescent mantle (1895) not only increased the efficiency of gas lighting, but gave a fresh stimulus to the company generally. Gas began to be more and more used for heating purposes and in 1914 the official gas tests for heat value began to be made. During the World War the company also supplied benzene, toluene and other raw materials for ex plosives. After the war, many new technical developments led to a very rapid growth of the company. Since 192o gas has been sold only on the basis of heat content (Gas Regulation Act) and meas ured on this basis the increase in the output of gas has been about 25% in the five years 1922-1927.
In 1927 2,642,00o tons of coal were carbonized and 46,300, 000,000cu.ft. of gas sold to 1,207,520 consumers and distributed through 3,885m. of main. The coke made was 1,672,000 tons and the output of coal tar 2 7,00o,000gal. ; other items were 23,000 tons of sulphate of ammonia and 7,25o,000gal. of creosote.
(L. C. M.)