Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-05

The Subject OF lighting the City, which must nS
be allowed to sc interest. The attention Of cur cit
that the sprng about to oPen and the EeS
ton Of City Officers will be naturally turne
this imPor,sn, matter. and rvrry thing likely to nhor
Information ~,l therefore be acceptable. We sccordinsl
extinct from the Albany Evening Journal the iolowin
interesting description OF the Gas Works Of that city
1.-THE ALBANY GAS WORKS.
| Or citizen. have now enjoy the benefit OF thes
works long enough to appreciate them There has neve
been enerPrire undertaken by our capitalists whie
promises greater seiuness and ultimately, better retu
for capital inv sted. And, that enjoy the pleas
light which these works furnish s matter OF gene
raj that had not secured their establish
ment amongst Our streets, stores. mechanics shops
offices. and public ed6ses all bear brilliant testimony
the superiority OF all other lights and render writ
compliments either the material ITSELF the works
the excellent engineer NJ BArriS, quite unnecessary
Like cssrheaoed, logical eloquent debat,r, the light
spesk for themselves They furash the htng eulngy
OF their real merits. aud sly the public that all that
done by the company Its agents is well done.
But, may be interesting readers and useful
TO her cities where similar works contemplation
will give brief description OF the establishment.
The works are located on Arch street, South Fear
The buildings neat substantial and well arranged.
They, with all the machinery. built under the drec
ton OF JosTrH BArrs. Eco. who has proved himself an
ish,d engineer, and secured the conhdencc and
esteem OF all who have had 10 become acquainted
with him.
The REroRT HcusE is the principal edi6ee. Ii IL here
where the IL generated The operation Is beautifully
SIMPLE, and well worth hours study. The bniidng ~
"a feet by 30 IL contains Benches" Furnaces,
OF three each The surround the furnace
and kept constantly filled with bitumnous OH" coal.
The furnaces kept white heat The coal is roast
ed and the gas thus formed. This building 10 perfectly
hrrpruo. with slas root, tied with lesd wire; and
supported bv iron irame,he whole novel as it Is
Toe PURIFYING HorsE is also of brck-3O by 20 feet
IL contains OF vertical horiz pipss through
which the gas before aches the purifying boxes
which composed Ut three distinct containing
lime-thr ugh nine layers ui which the pissesleav
ing the lime its suPhuretted hydrogeu;-previOus to
which, however, IL had come in contact with that great
purifier water the ammonia and contense the
tar formed IN ITS original generation.
The gas from the Purifying House passes through
der ground pes the Office where through
and beautifully constructed Station Meter. which
elsers, by very ingenious pocess the quantity inside
We noticed by the register, (which looks and moves Ike
clock that ule less Than one million at feet have
been mode since the works went into operation.
From this meter the either passes into the city.
hr ugh the line oi pipes, the Gasometer
Store Housea large sheet iron cylinder % feet IN d.
amrter nv % 10 depth This Gi-ometer IL capable OF
holding $4,000 cuhc feet and IL the largest but
the most perfect IN this country. IL Is nVesief
wser-k, p rom freezing by ingenious infusion OF
seanI-and tres and tails, though weighs several tons,
the gas avs IL guided by four
supports standards which Is attached by chains
passing Iher tops. 1t IS this which regulates the
upon the gas in the streets and gives force
pas fran the burners.
We are informed BY the Engineer. that there
nearly five miles 4 pipes laid and 100 stores, dwellings
sc, Misunderstanding the Capitol the Museum, tSo
Churches, the Post Office the Dcavan House, and one or
other Hotels But for the nterposon Of cold weather.
pipes would have been extended this, to much
greater distance.
Over OF the hurs in the Retot House is boiler 30
feet ung, oy OF which (rum the heat VII ch would
Otherwise escape sufficient IL generated TO
10 hnr-e engine, which used amorR other thing, TO
keep the the sOmeieE tank and m the purifying
house from, freezing.
Inc machinery is highly creditable TO the nod
taste and skill OF Mr.. BArrIS IL Is entirely at II
Manufacture. The New Workers and Pni'ade phans
iers The Aibanlans chose tie skill ot Amer
ican mechanics The results. assured by com
potent dges that have good. and m respects
machinery Ihaa be t,urd IN any other similar
establishment, the country Mr.. BArrN has. himself.
made imp Improve the application
81 he seal, wnch applied here 10 great sdyan-
Iig-.
We may odd here that. although there iurna-
erected In the Reort ued and three RetUTs
These sufficient 5000 ieet Of gas per day;
and that about the used When all the Retors
operauon over, $1,000 feet OF gas be made per
day.
Mu;h credits due enrsrp'isng fellow CITIZEN, II l..
WEBB E-q the which ne has taken ins
POI enterprise. Much of uNing his
Z buus o-opsfSuon-combInrd win the indeatigshe
zeal OF the Engiueer, MIR. BArIIS Tho works
thy OF being visited by czers; and they b. 4
every attention both from The Engineer, and the gentle
manly Register. Mr.. LUDLOW"