The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-07
CITY INTELLIGENCE
For Additional 0Ity InieaigenOe see E,ta Page.

Special Committee OF Select Council to inves-
hgate the MANAGEMENT OF the PHILADELPHIA Gas
Works held an adjourned meeting yesterday
afternoon. Charles Thompson Jones, Esq.,
Pre- sident of the Board of Trustees was again
examined:-Q. In your report of 1866, page 7,
Ii is stated that the coal was much damaged by
spontaneous combustion; can you tell the
number of tons destroyed? A. cannot
tell, without reference to books al the office.
Y. What was the cause OF the fire? A. Spon-
taneous combustion. There was nothing
destroyed by the fire except sheds; the Fire
Marshal made a careful examination, but he
mas made no report yet, in consequence of
sickness; the coal was on fire several times,
the first one in December 1885, when IL was dis
covered TO be on tire a large number OF carts
were employed to haul the coal into the fields;
the bill for hauling is at the office q. Are not
the Works in many respects worn outY A. Not
that know Of Q. Are any improvements or
extensions being made to the Works at present
A. The Board are now building large retort
and purifying house at Point ,breeze, which 1t
is believed will supply ali the wants of the
city for two or three years; the Board think the
Northern Liberties Works will be taken pos
session OF by the city, and when that is done
there will be no necessity for other new works;
have not been compelled to curtail the supply
of gas because the works we're not of sutf-
cient capacity; the Engineer informed the
Board tnat they were supplying the street
lamps with gas for more hours than their
contract called Tor and the quantity was re-
duced in December; the Works have been
worked to their full capacity, particularly in
D6CeuDbI ldbb, DuJ lutlG utNeI WAS WANT
OF supply; the Government tax is thirty cents
per thousand feet; in Boston the Gas Works pay
about $3.50 per ton; New York gets coal from
Nova Scotia cheaper than the coal furnished
the Philadelphia Gas Work. Q. What was the
cost of laying a main from Robinson Mill to
Germantown? A. i cannot tell; but can get
it at the office; the pipe Is still used. and sup
plies mills and houses along the Wissahickou; it
was intended to give the citizens of German
town better supply of gas but portion OF it
failed to meet the desired end but it is still
OF great use TO mill owners and other parties.
Q. What became of the old iron when the re-
tofts were used up? A. They were sold TO
parties who make them up into sadirons. O.
DO you know that the parties who supplied
retorts made them of the old retorts? a. The
parties deny it, and Mr.. CTesson has said r,ot
new ones could not be made out OF o. oras.'
think there were three bidders Gov tha Iast 1oa
retorts contracted for; t.rA u,aa from, a haIt 70
one cent per poup1G difference In the bids: tbe
boapu iDaSi Oh Tastes gave the contract to the
iGtNfst oldder; some OF the members wanted TO
eivesit to Merrick Son, though they were the
highest bidders; contracts for retorts are always
given to lowest bidders; five firms supply meters.
Q. Are any OF the Trustees interested in meter
establishments? A. Not that know Of; Mr..
Lening, thiEik, still supplies meters.
Colonel Page stated that he would make out
table irom the reports OF the Gas Works in
reference to The leakage and other facts,
which he would hand to the witness, so t hat
answers could be given at future time.
The witness then made the following state
ment in answer to questions propouDded at the
previous meetne:-
Average yield per h. of coal in iron retorts A 10
Do. do. do. clay do. ..,,. .346
difference. ...,.,..............,...,,.. 70
Which on account Of coal carbonized in clay
retorts, IA, LAS, 400 lbs, amounts to 1926, l42
cubic feet.
The amount expended for stone and labor at
Point Breeze, in 1864, tor the railroad extension,
was as follows:-$3376'22; labor, S3,O66'7O
1anl inn N I'M t0l n
The following shows the number of men en-
ployed at the various works, exclusive of ofces:-
Twentysixth Ward, 800 men, including 81 on
new work; Ninth Ward, 23S men, and 60 me-
chanics; Fifteenth Ward, 80 men; Twenty. first
Ward, Is Matchmaking total o. 718 men. The
wages paid are as lollows:-
2e& Ward Ward Oh. 18th 2lst wa T@sds
Stokers. .............S226 70 81 10
hepefs. .,........,.. b ZOo
runners. .,..,,...... ~ 1lO
LabOrers,,...,.."... 60 1'40 to 70
The Cashier received S225O; Register, $3.50;
Chief Clerk $l5OO; 1000. =, Gianqp1Sm9ti2n
Clerks, $3.50; nine Bill do, $40; "a Meter In
spectors, $500 each; Superintendent of DistriDu-
tion, $l9S0; Assistant, $3.50 per day; Superm-
tendent of Fittings, $500; TWO Assistants, S7l6
OF officers at Spring Garden, Germantown, and
Franktord Works not included in the above.
The witness stated that he would rather have
Mr. John Roberts examined in reference to the
leakage. MIR. Roberts had informed witness
that $50 900 was lost last year through defective
retorts, which were furnished by contract
made in 1864. The Ietorts were made OF baC
iron, and the contractor was ruined In replacing
those burned out
Colonel Page read letter from the Committee
of Common Council appointed to examiue into
the affairs of the Gas Works proposing to unite
with this Committee.
The Committee instructed Colonel Page to de
cline the proposition.
FIREMEN's RECEPTION CONVENTION
THE ROUTE DETERMINED ON.-An adjourned
meeting of fremen was held at the Mechanic
Engine House last evening, for the purpose o
perfecting arrangements 10 receive the Penn
sylvanla Hose company on their return iron
Buffalo. The President called the meeting u
order
Delegates we're received from the following
named companies, net represented at the forme
meeting:-Philadep phia Hose, Kensington Hose
HibernIa Engine Company-making twenty-sl'
companies in ali.
The Committee of Arrangements made re
port, stating that they had divided the compa
nies INTO four divisions, and agreed upon th
following route:-From Walnut street wharf K
Thld street, up Third street to Grard avenue
up Girard avenue to Thirteenth street. dowl
Thirteenth to Brown, up Brown to Sixteenth
down Sixteenth to Spruce, down Spruce Il
Eighth, up Eighth to Green, and dismiss.
The first division will form on Front street
south Of Walnut the second division on From
street, north of Walnut; the third division OF
Second street, south of Walnut; the tourtf
division on Second street. north of Walnut.
The, report was adopted and the rout
agreed to.
Mr.. George Hensler, of the Mechanic Engine
was elected Chief Marshal by aCclamation. Th
following Assistants were elected;-First Dis
irict Nicholas Stafford, MoYamensing Hos
Company. Second District Harry Mcintyre
Philadelphia Engine Company. Third Distric
B. X. Afflick, Empire Hook and Ladder Com
pany. Fonrth Dlstrict-Frederick Rentshler
Natn