Printed Indenture granting the exclusive right to lay pipes for gas lighting in New York City.
New York: 1823. The end of the era of oil lighting in New York City, in a printed indenture allowing New York Gas Light Company to be the first to lay pipes for gas lighting. Dated 12th May 1823, and granting "sole and exclusive privilege and right of laying or placing under ground, pipes in all and every of the public streets and parts of streets of the city of New York south of a line commencing at the East River, at the foot of Grand Street ..."
In May of 1823 the New York Gas Light Company began laying gas pipes in Broadway, on both sides of the street, from Canal Street down to the Battery. The indenture stipulates that the street lights erected by the company must be of a "brilliancy or intensity equal to the Gas in use for the public lamps in the city of London" (p3). NY Gas did extend its gas lighting across southern Manhattan, but in a checkerboard way, so that some streets were brightly lit while others were still dimly lit by the original oil lamps. Samuel Leggett, one of the founders of NY Gas owned the first home in the city to use gas lighting, at 7 Cherry Street. 4pp, 4 x 6 1/2". Disbound. Very good condition. Item #22082
Sold