A Sandusky (Ohio) paper states, that, about one mile and a quarter from Milan, is a place just in the edge of the water of Huron river, where there is a current of inflammable gas, that burns with a clear bright blaze, and is in sufficient quantity to light ten houses.
[CHAPTER X.]
OF THE MANNER OF FIXING AND ARRANGING FIRE-WORKS IN GENERAL FOR EXHIBITION.
Having already treated of the formation of various kinds of fire-works, we come now to consider their arrangement in fixed and moveable pieces.
It is obvious, that the order of arrangement, the manner of disposing the work, or establishing pieces for exhibition, may be greatly varied according to taste and fancy. The great variety of fixed and moveable pieces, consisting of suns, moons, stars, &c. which may be either made permanent, or to revolve on, or round a centre; or of wheels, double, single, or treble, either moving round other wheels, or by themselves in a vertical or horizontal order, together with the arrangement of fire-pots, and coloured lights, the management of rockets, the formation of aerial stars, serpents, tourbillons, &c. and the imitation of cascades, girandoles, and water-falls, all depend on the taste and fancy of the artist.
It is our intention, therefore, in the different sections of this chapter, to give the order and arrangement of pieces, as adopted in Europe, and particularly in France; so that the manner of fixing any one piece, or combination of pieces, to produce effects of different kinds, may be seen at one view. The moveable pieces are generally made of wheel-work, the wheel always turning upon an axle, which may pass entirely through and be kept on by a nut or pin. They should revolve without much friction, and, for this reason, the spindle should be of metal, and oiled or greased. Black lead, along with tallow, will diminish the friction very considerably. As to the formation of the wheel, whether it be solid, or formed of spokes and a band or hoop, or made with several concentric bands, placed at given distances apart, &c. the observations on this head will be found under the respective articles, and, generally, on all other pieces for exhibition.
We purpose, in a subsequent chapter, to notice particularly the works, made in and on water, usually denominated aquatic fire-works; as their arrangement, in many respects, differs from those on the land. Aquatic works furnish a variety, both in character and effect, and, therefore, are calculated to produce, in conjunction with land works, a brilliant spectacle. Of this, we have an instance, mentioned in the introduction to this part of our work, in the splendid exhibition at the Pont Neuf in Paris.
Sec. I. Of the Composition of Wheel-Cases, standing and fixed.