_the_ burner, in short.

Mr. D.M. Nelson (Glasgow) gave his experience gained in connection with
the light, remarking that one of the great drawbacks to it was the very
great rarity of the mineral from which the zirconium was obtained. So
scarce was it that it would become dearer than platinum and more
valuable than gold if the lamp came into general use. The light which
the lamp gave out, though it possessed intensity, was deficient in
diffusibility as compared with that given out from ordinary flat flame
gas burners, and this was another objection to it. He argued at some
length against the financial aspects of the scheme which was being
promoted to buy up the Welsbach patents, and to introduce the lamp into
this country. His advice to his friends was not to have anything to do
with the Welsbach company, and, as investors, to be very careful in
accepting all the statements made about the light, which he predicted
would not be a financial success.

Mr. McCrae was strongly opposed to any discussion being raised in regard
to the question being considered in its financial aspects. They, as gas
engineers, did not require to trouble themselves with the doings of
investors. He regarded the Welsbach burner as an improved appliance for
consuming gas. It was an invention which was quite new to him, and as he
was not in possession of any facts which would enable him to condemn it,
he thought they ought, at least, to give it a fair trial. Referring to
the fragile nature of the "mantle," he remarked that there were minds at
work aiming at giving a purer and more brilliant light from gas, and so
far he was of opinion that the light before them was a success. His
opinion as to the diffusibility of the light emitted from the burner
differed from that of Mr. Nelson, as he considered the light possessed
that quality in a high degree. He had no doubt that the minds already at