Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-25
LOCAL ITE II 8 -.

last, by invitation Of the worthy Superinten-
dent jacob Roxbury, esq, the chemical Sec
ton OF &. :. Ialluwell's High School visited
the City Gas Works.
The entire operation of making, washing,
purifying measuring, collecting, and dstrib-
uting the gas, was laid open, i'll all It's de-
tails. to those present, and proved exceeding
Is Instructive. The amount made At differ
ent periods of the year. depends of course
upon the consumption; Just at this time, 1t
ranges at about eighty thousand cubic feet per
week, but rs the days shorten, the quantity
consumed gradually rises, until it reaches, in
mid winter. weekly average, of two hun
dred and ten thousand cubic feet. The actu'
al consumption Of gas, can, OF course, never
fully equal the amount generated.-a certain
per centage being necessarily allowed for
leakage, the loss from this source, however,
We learn, is constantly diminishing, and has
now been reduced to about ten per cent on the
whole
The total cost 10 the city, Of these Gas
Works, is put down at SlOG, 900; but 1t must
be borne in mind that this includes the cost
of the old rosin establishment, which. it is
well known, has been completely superse'
ded 10y the present superior and effective coal
works.
We were struck, during our visit, with
many evidences of the unceasing care requl-
site on the part of all concerned IN the man
ngenent of Gas Works day and night,
summer and winter, on, on, goes the work,
mo Sundays, no holidays for gas men,, say
the employees; everything needs constant
personal supervision.
Richmond coal is now solely used for
generating the gas, the retorts being replen-
ished, or as il is technically called, charged
every six hours 1t is deemed important to
keep the heat at what Is known as cherry
red, for if suffered to rise much above this.
the retorts are rapidly destroyed, and if it
falls below this temperature, the entire
uuantum that the coal is capable Of yielding,
IN .,.,o;,.,a A. a.,h ,h,rge Ina
a,.,.,u.,aI s. :. ,o. ~. rat,rt can
,.;o;, = i on.nad and the residium or
-. u;,h ,roan. .,Lo hs;nr naithsr mare
l,,l e ,,,y s,r,,.. al
mirably for fuel aud Is indeed the sole fuel
a., r.,,,ir.1
, ,a.o,al, nc
~, nso ,ha az
.,Ir,-.,, anil o,nr J.. rr,.,raj =,
.o l r,.,
tar, another product OF the decomposition OF
coal, Is also collected Ill large quantities. anu
offered for sale at these works
superintendent h"Shnry Is amy assisted
by William II. HantAman' Inspector ana
sufficient number Of experienced workmen.
~. ,,;,t ,,'n,. o;o,, b,ndr.d ram
;..,ol ,onsumers !. If course great hut from
nsrsora, ;rsnection we are very ready to be-
i.vo that n. efficient clerk Thomas NJ
wh;,o 90, i f,lIv aouol 70 the task. indeed
:. I'm. ~ Mot, s,ats that hstter or.
aon.I or. ,oa,t;r,Ily tsnt sst of hook,
The gas furnished from these works, Will,
we think, compare tavorahiy with that oil
any other establishment IN the country ahu'
taking into consideration the amount 'i hSh'
given otf, we have no doubt gas is the cheap
.ut ~ il uuouesti,unbly j. most beautiful,
oo, e I;,,L,;,o,nr d,vsl-
'"''' "''l '',""''
lungs ana places "l business
~
MANASSAS "Ar RAILROAD" are P''"''
ed to learn that the amount necessary To pay
m. interest due the lst of July, on the Bonds
Co.,, N,.o..o. IA, Ro;Irood b,. boon ,or.
VI Wv u~.',,.. :. >.,
T TarL ,. H. 80, ,l, ,.nunons or, rayabje.
Fly AND MosqrIr" TRAP.-"e have seen
a. Mr.. John I. Creighton store an ingenl-
Gus machine for catching flies and mosqui-
!, :. u,on tho :. rotary" nr;ncinIe
~, =. :. ,;.i ,,o,oa
Inc n'es igh' upon 'S',"oe'' '"'''"'e'
with molnSses, which IS made to reVolVe by
clock work, and are carried into a cage from
which they cannot escape.