Denny Lane Papers Descriptive List (Ref. U611)

U611/

Letter, from Denny Lane, Craven Hotel, London to Mr. J.O’Mahony, Cork Gas Company. Mainly concerns Lane’s observations on Gas lighting equipment. He writes that the Gas Exhibition does not contain much that is very new, the principle novelties were Granston’s regenerative burner and two systems of incandescent gas burners. Lane requests that the Chairman be asked to apply for space at the exhibition. He is asking Crossley and others, ‘but Ireland is so much out of favour that I do not think I will succeed’. Lane remarks on Charles Stewart Parnell. Parnell’s speech ‘confirms the opinion I always held of him…very much a special pleader he has not the courage to condemn the Carey gang...his exhibition was a wretched one’. Lane continues, Parnell ‘spurted out insults’ when ‘brought to bag’ but made no answer to some of the most damaging charges, ‘…’Tis not of such stuff a hero’s made’. Concludes with a note concerning his tenant at Harpers Lane who’s rent he has not collected for 3 or 4 years. 4pp 110 15 November 1888 Memorandum from Denny Lane, Craven Hotel, London, to Mr. J.O’Mahony, Cork Gas Company. Mainly concerns Lane’s investigations on electric light and his activities in London such as reading at the Institute of Civil Engineers and the Library of Telegraph Engineers. Lane reckons that the greatest progress has been in transformers. He found that Edison in New York ‘works with the Direct current without either transformers or storage batteries’. Mentions cost of private house plant, also ‘no improvement in generation of electricity’. He does not see anything that would affect them much in Cork, ‘the Corporation would never stand the money’ and the profit would not attract speculators. 4pp 111 20 November [1888] Memorandum from Denny Lane, [London], to Mr. J.O’Mahony, Cork Gas Company. Mentions financial matters such as cheque for £50 for J.W. Bourke. Mainly concerns his reports on systems he has seen in England. Lane saw the new Gas Engineers yesterday at the Agricultural Hall. He is thinking of sending a pupil to the School of Electric Engineering in January. He is to attend a meeting of the Electrical

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