The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-13

with bodies Of greater density than ITSELF requires some
contvance TO resist the back pressure upon the gas which
dean screw or circular drum with curved plates pro-
ceedng from the centre 10 the circumference The ex
hauster generally placed between the hydraulic main
Now that the gas Is made must be stored In proper
receptacles These are called gashoders, and being al
ways exposed to view readers will not require any
other description than their interior arrangements The
gasholder itself large cylinder, open at the bottom,
and dips into the In the csern which It Is
suspended The gas passes from the purifiers through
what called an nlstppe INTO the cstern and up above
the water level It's outlet effected through another
above the surface OF the thus Theoretically seals
up the within the holder aud it's escape IL effected
emily through the outlet pipe.
In large works having more than ono gasholder there
10 usually what Is termed valve room, with an appara
tus by which the engineer or superintendent can see At
glance what gas goes into each holder Tho pressure
requisite to raise OF these holders Is equivalent 10
raising I've inches OF water In Q tube.
The gas now being ready for distribution, has in
large cities TO travel scores Of miles before reaches tho
quiet apartments OF consumers and where the pipes
laid in unduating streets regulator OF pressure be.
comes necessary 80 that those elevated ground would
not get plethora OF and those In low spots scarcely
any To remedy this and serve all customers alike 1t IL
nature gasholder, with balance weight and with
inlet and an outlet pipe, the first having suspended
over It conca piston which regulates the admission OF
the gas IN the inverse ratio Of It's pressure This &C
complished by the piston which constructed that II
works on the principle OF bellows valve, shutting the
inlet pipe partially when the pressure the strongest
When once the gas Is admitted TO the gashoders above
tho inlet Pipe 1t passes into the mains at a
uniform pressure To keep up this pressure
the gas will reach every customer IL Q
very delicate arrangement requiring the incest
The New York Gaslight Company supplying the lower
en.tenhs to meet he large d day consumption while
the up town companies seldom have pressure Of over
hve-tenths during day Al dark the pressure Is In
creased and maintained TO meet the largest demands for
gas, which Ia from eight twelve o'clock the winter.
After that hour Il 10 reduced tho consumption dimn.
shcs Proper persons kept at the pressure gauge
daV and night regulate tho OF tho
mains To guard against any derection OF the watch
men, register is placed In the Office recording cor
recy at all hours the exact rate of pressure OF the gs
This pressurendicator Is cylinder covered with paper
and revolves by cockwork. Against II rests the point
OF tho gas In tho mains and records, In rising or fall
ing ne the rate at which tho gas has been passing into
the street pipes during The twenty four hours.
The largest street main used about thirty inches IN
diameter and run down 70 three inches. Where the
pipes have been laid long time and mpcrfcctly cast the
loss by leakage distribution often reaches fifteen per
cent Of the gas stored In city the average
reported 70 DO but ton per cent and probably this
Is tho minimum loss for smaller works having
lesser number OF miles OF street pipes There arc about
four hundred miles OF street mains laid on Manhattan
Island while In Philadelphia tho number liz four hundred
ana seventy nvc, which takes In Germantown, tho city
owning the gas works supplying that city and suburbs
Two kinds OF valves are used In fas works-the by
drauc located within the works, acting on the prnc
pie OF inteposing such column OF water Ia position and
depth that the gas Is incapable Of passing through IT,
and tho slide or spring valve which shuts on the supply
OF In the mains while undergoing repairs or in case
Our readers may have noticed the curb stone cast
iron plate, letored Gas Drip" The explanation In, that
all the impurities Of gas when leaves
the purifier and II liable slight condensation.
This provision made 10 allow she drppngs to pass on
by sufficient inclination OF the pipes when laid down,
they would DO clogged In time
CONSUMPTION or GAS.
Tho gas IL now supposed TO ramy every street. avenue
or lane and only awaits the service pipe 70 be In
dwelling or business place OF every consumer from the
humble cottage OF Ave lights using but ATTY cubic feet
per night 70 the magnificent ho.el OF two thousand
burners consuming twenty four thousand cubic feet.
To out In required quantities 10 numerous
class OF customers that all may DO satisfied ana nj the
time IN arrive nj tho correct amount OF gas each
within given time, would sccm almost Impossible; as
much no as II would be Tor storekeeper, having mo
nopoly OF goods 70 satisfy ms many cnsomers Yet "
done by simple contrivance called the meter o which
there are two kinds the wet and dry The former en-
closed In small case made OF sheet IRON IL acts oy
valve, governed by ball noat When The water Kept
the meter the valve continues TO DO raised the gas
then passes through from tho service pipe into Chamber
wherein wheel or screw ~ turned by It's passage, the
turning OF which acts upon the brass WORKS OF the meter
clock ON the top oil tho case and registers exactly tue
quantity OF gas consumed or aking out OF he pipes on
the consumers side Of the meter