American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-17
TELEGRAPH
rho New Gas Works. "

We have frequently noticed, with real plea
sure the progress which the engineer q. A.
Sebatton, esq., was making in the erection Of
the new gasworks in our city. The tank has
been excavated at great expense, and is now
walled in and nearly ready to receive the gas
ometer which is being made by the justly cele-
brated machinist, Mr.. Amer, near Philadelphia,
and will be capable Of holding one hundred
thousand cubic feet of gas. The chimney,
cannon shaped and imposing, rises to the height
of seventy six feet, and is TO be used more for
draUght than 10 carry of smoke, OF which there
will, We learn, be very little. The retort- house
win contain fourteen benches, each with three
retorts, in which the gas is manufactured, and
will be handsome edifice, with pressed briek
front, heavy cornicc. stone finishing, &C.; be-
sides which there will be the purify fying house,
meter-house, Office, &c., &C., the whole forming
quite group Of neat buildings, and will add
very much TO tho life and business Of that hith-
erto neglected portion Of our city.
I An impression prevails to soine extent that
these works belong to new Company; such is
not the fact, as they are the property of the
present Washington Gas.light Company" the
only one ever chartered by Congress, and which
has been in operation more than three years.
The directors determined last January to change
the character Of the works from those Of rosin
gas-works to coal gas-works, which is now used
IN every city of any size in the Union; and
contract was concluded with the well-knoxn
and experienced firm of Messrs. Batten, Dun
gan Co., who, vi thin the last few years, have
built coal gas-works in Albany, Rochester,
Syracuse, Poughkeepsie, Paterson, Newark,
New Haven, Hartford, Reading, Charleston,
&C., all of which have succeeded to perfection
In addition to the erection of new works, eight
miles Of pipe are to be laid, which, added to
those already in the ground, will form line Of
pipe nearly twelve miles in extent
We cordially unite with our Mayor, in his late
annual message, in recommending the use Of
gas, as we believe it will be made at the new
works of the Company, to all persons who desire
a convenient, brilliant economical, aud inodor
Gus Eght; being satisfied that il is cheaper,
cleaner, less dangerous and more satisfactory
in every particular than oil, candles, camphino,
or any other mode of illumination yet discoy-
cred. We would advise all persons who are
building to have the tubes inserted in their
houses, as they can be better done before pias-
tering than after the tenements are finished.
Much praise is due to the energetic engineer
under whose personal observation the works
have thus far progressed, and who has intro
duced many important improvements, Of the
utility of which he is entirely convinced. The
new works, we are informed, are TO be in opera
ton by the Goth Of November next.
The stock Of this Company has mostly passed
into the hands Of enterprising capitalists, chiefly
from Philadelphia, who, seeing their interest
in enlargng the operations of lighting with gas
IN this city, have invested a large amount OF
money among us in the way of extending their
manufacturing works, and laying some conduit
pipes and mains. As at present organized,
SILAs IL. HILL, esq, is president, and JosEPH
I. BRowN, esq, secretary, both of whom are
old citizens Of Washington Of high rcspecta-
bility and standing. The Inspector and Col
lector Of the Company, however, is the person
who has most 10 do with the patrons Of the
Company and with The public; and in speaking
Of Mr.. CHARLES kEESAS, who fills this respon-
siDle office, constrained to say that by
his manners and department he has done as
much as any other officer belonging to the Com
pany toward bringing it to its present enviable
position. Polite, intelligent, and sniable, he
has won the confidence Of all with whom he is
brought in contact, and cf this confidence he is
richly deserving Coming to this city from
Baltimore with fund Of knowledge on the
subject Of gas, he has proved the very man for
his place. His whole time is devoted to The
duties Of his Office, and we trust that he is well
rccompensed for his valuable services