Gas in Paris and Rome from Its Origins to the Competition with Electricity

The goal of this chapter is to analyse the origin and development of the gas supply in two of the most important state capitals of Latin Europe. The first companies, the origin of the capital, the production-distribution technology and the networks are examined. Due to the different sizes of the two cities and the different levels of economic development of France and Italy, the trajectory of the sector had some common elements, but also many differences. In Paris, the gas industry emerged at the beginning of the nineteenth century, thanks to the interest of the city council and investors in providing the city with lighting, which was identified as a symbol of modernization. In contrast, in Rome, the process was delayed until the 1850s, largely due to the hostile attitude towards technological innovations by the Vatican authorities. The evolution was faster in Paris, where there were more than ten factories at the end of the century, while in Rome there were only two. In Paris, local capital was dominant while in Rome foreign (British) capital prevailed. In both cases private companies operated under concession, orienting their supply towards public lighting, commercial activities and the demands of the bourgeoisie.