19th Century New York Gas Lighting Competition

In the 19th century, New York City was home to a unique competition known as the gaslighting competition. During this time, lighting the city's gas lamps was a dangerous task, and ensuring the safety of the entire city required quick lighting.

Overview of the Competition

The gaslighting competition involved multiple lighters racing to ignite the city's gas lamps simultaneously. This was a crucial task to illuminate thousands of street lamps throughout the city, and those who completed it quickly were rewarded.

Competitors

The competitors were typically brave and physically fit young men. They would climb high towers or ladders to reach the gas lamps and manually open the gas valves to ignite the lights.

Rewards and Risks

Upon completing the lighting task, competitors received rewards such as wages, meals, and sometimes even alcohol or cash prizes. However, this work was highly perilous, with risks of falling from high towers or ladders, as well as dangers of gas leaks or explosions.

End of the Competition

The gaslighting competition gradually faded away in the late 19th century with the advent of electric lighting. The introduction of electric lights made lighting tasks safer and more efficient, reducing the necessity for competition.

The gaslighting competition in New York City was a fascinating aspect of urban life in the 19th century. The brave competitors who risked their lives to illuminate the city contributed to its development, and the history of this competition is a testament to New York's rich past.