The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-04-19

100 GOO cubic feet per q hours, while we can,
.;,sou, going to Rocketts. or anywhere else.
| ~;,h . ;udicious arrangement, generate, and
nurifv. and distribute 900, 600 cubic feet per "a
| hours. We are, therefore, Tor can be with a
small additional outlayJ prepared for $4,000
inhabitants. DO we look farther in our other
public works--our market. houses--our water
works-our system of drainagei Would it
not be better TO reserve our means just now to
improve our streets, than to establish another
seu of gas works7 Look at our Main street
paved only as far west as 9Th street-behold
the shocking condition Of our sidewa!ks-lis-
ten to the importunate appeals Of the benevo-
lent for work .house-ard to the calls of the
children Of the poor for educaiion-and then
say if it would no t be better to spare the cost
of second gas depot.
But If more room must be had now, (which
we conceive to be uncalled for,J why not OBJ
tain the adjoining lot to the present works,
and thus save the annual cost of tico tSorks in
all after time? The Committee on Light say,
ave are of opinion that it could not be got
ten for some $4,000"
This, by the way, shows that our gas works
have not proved Objectionable to their imme-
date neighborhood, while the property at
Rockets is assessed at $13, 500. Why did not
the Committee, 10 making this comparison, put
dorn the assessed ralae of both?* The city
can have either condemned, so that what indi-
viduals may demand has nothing TO do with
the question. The adjoining lot has no build.
ings of any consequence on it to enhance its
value-t is as large or larger than our present
lot so that, if obtained, the city will have
room for making and distributing 400, 900 cubic
feet of gas per "a hours, enough for 100000
inhabitants. Besides, the convenience of this
location for coal coming over the Danville
Railroad is of very great importance, and then
it is central and acceptable TO our citizens,
who are compelled often to visit the office to
make payments, and to make known their
wants.
The Committee say
ave are of the opinion that, in few years,
the lot on which the buildings now stand, with
the buildings, can be sold for more than e. ound
would cost where they propose, sufficient for
all purposes for great many years TO come
The whole works have cost $246. GIG 40
deduct the cost of the street mains, say $780,
900, and lamp posts $4,000, in all $92 1000.
from the $246.616 40, and the property on the
lot, including the lot, will have cost $l54,6l6
40. This is 10 be exchanged tor ground
sufficient for all purposes at Rocketts!-
| Ought such a loss to be incurred Suppose
there was nothing lost, is not the present loca-
ton OF the works the best! In tine famous de-
bate On gas before the Council. a favorite and
very proper illustration of gas works, and the
distribution of gas through the city, was the
human heart, and the arteries and veins of the
system. And it was contended that the more
| central gas works could be consistent with a
| low point of depression, the better and more
| perfect would be the system of distribution
| Such locality is certainly important for all
| the purposes of intercourse between all parts
of the city and the works, which must of ne
| cessty be constant and intimate. The farther
| off the works are, Of course the greater will
be the difficulty of the promptness and eff
| cheney OF this intercourse, the slower will be
the sale of the articles that are for sale, locke,
&c., at the works.
Looking at this subject in all its bearings,
we cannot but conc lude that our city fathers
have failed to exercise their usual caution, or
they have endorsed the Committee Oh Light.
and the Committee endorsed the opinions of
the Superintendent without that supervision
and examination which attaches to their re-
preventative capacity and We hope it may be
the pleasure of the sew Council to pause ere
they execute a work which their constituents,
by a large MAJ GRITTY, we believe, dsapprove Of
Since this article was prepared, we find that the
lot ad joining the works, with all its improvements
is assessed at Sl5,500. Why did the committee not
safe this fact easily ascertained the assessed
value of the Rockets lotq