La crisis del alumbrado de gas en las ciudades españolas durante la I Guerra Mundial

Abstract

This paper analyzes the consequences of the First World War on gas activity, especially gas lighting, a period in which it experienced a severe crisis, whose dimension is examined. In order to do this, several aspects must be considered: the evolution of gas production, companies, the number of factories, the number of municipalities with gas lighting and the incomes obtained from gas sales, especially from town halls. At the same time, the problems faced by the gas industry, mainly the lack of coal and the rising  costs, are studied. Not only will be discussed the strategies implemented by the gas companies to face this increase, but also the workers' protests, the competition of electricity and the decision of the central government to halve the public lighting generated with coal. Besides, the way some local and national policies had to be implemented by applying several guidelines to avoid the shortage of coal, in the interest of keeping their towns supplied with illumination.