The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-31
CITY INTELLIGENCE
For additional city Intelligence see E,fa Page.

Colonel Page Chairman, presiding.
Colonel G. Thompson Jones' President of the
Board of Trustees of the Gas Works, was present,
and examined by the Committee
Q. When were you elected President of the
BoardG A. January, 1865. .. What number OF
members constitute the Board? A. Twelve, and
they meet twice month, exclusive of special
meetines. The members ofthe Board are divided
into three Standing Committees Finance,
Works, and Distribution. Q. How many places
are there where gas is manulactured2 A. Point
Breeze, Market street. Spring Garden, and
Manayunk; also large holders at Frankord,
Germantown, Ninth and Mltiiin streets, and
Ninth and Diamond streets The main office is
in Seventh street, above Chestnut, There is also
an office in Frankord, Germantown, and Spring
Garden Hall.
Q. How many persons are employed at the
different stations? A. From 500 to 1000, |
think; but / will 1--WE the list at the next meet
ing; the principal officers are elected by the
Trustees; the laborers are appointed by the
Engineer, on the recommendation OF Trustees,
or "a member OF Councils; the Engineer is re-
quired to report at every meeting OF the Board
tue number Of men employed, the number dis
charged, and the cause tor the discharge; the
Engineer has no authority to employ without
Recommendation OF the Trustees, except to hll
vacancy in case of emergency. If the Chair
man on Works should direct him to employ
extra men TO unload cals the Trust would
sanction it, If the Chef Engineer says 1t is
requisite to have men, thev are obtained, and
he only reports to The Board; ne is responsible
for the number employed.
Q. Can you tell the amount of coal furnished
the works since you have been President A.
| will make the statement at the next meeting
The Engineer has generally sent to the different
parties furnishing coal, requesting bids, when
coal was needed. He has been directed to go to
parties when no bids were sent in. He, the wit.
ness could not say whether any mpettion was
asked Tor by advertisement. He thought an ad-
Vertisement was inserted IN the papers in Pitts
burg. The Westmoreand and Pennsylvania Coal
Company had a contract for three years, and
they were hlllng 1t when he (hlr. jones' became
member OF the Board, two years ago. Subse-
quently contract was gwen to William b.
Hays, which has since been transferred TO the
Shaiton Coal Company. Afterwards contract
was made with the Cameron Coal Company, Of
New York, and a company OF New York, called
Westmoreland and New York Coal Company. The
WestmoIeland county coal has always been con-
sidered the best in the State; the Pennsylvania
and Shaiton comes from the same vein. The
contracts are in writing. A vote Of the whole
Board makes the contract. Proposals are
handed IN and read openly at the Board Wit
hess could not tell the number of men required
at the Point Breeze Work, bat could furnish
them at the next meeting OF Committee.
MIR. William X. Park is the Assistant Engineer:
John Beckindorh has charge of the Market
Street Works; A Meyers at Spring Garden; and
John Baker at Nanayunk and all are under
the control of the Chief Engineer. Witness
could not tell whether there had been any sur
plus of hands at the Point Breeze Works.
At one time it appeared there we're more
yard hands than was necessary; but on calling
the attention OF the Assistant Engineer to the
knowledge did not occur at any of the other
works; could not tell how many had been dis
charged. The Engineer was directed. soon after
Mr.. Park went TO the works. little over year
ago-to curtail the expenses as much as pos
slble. He did not know Of hands being
kept on the payroll when there was nothing
for them to do; when the retorts are taken
down, the hands leave until they are put up
again; iron and clay retorts are used; at Point
Breeze they are all iron.
The Trustees were led to believe that clay
retorts were the cheapest, and the Board is now
having building put up for clay retorts; are
now putting three clay retOrts to a bench and
five IRON ones. SNleman & Ellis supplied
retorts when witness became President. At
present Fulton s. Co., Morris, Tasker d Co.. and
Mr.. Dram are furnishing them. The clay retorts
were purchased in New York; could not tell
the amount expended for retorts without re-
ferring to books requests were sent to all the
large foundrIes asking them to send bids, and
the contracts were made by the Board, and they
all in writing. The contractors at present
are Morris, Tasker d Morris and Mr.. Dram.
Steman Ellls had the contract when witness
became President; they made a bad retort at
the time, which was a loss to them; knew no
thing about the stop-cock boxes; Mr.. CressWell
has furnished most OF the castings for the tops
OF them; the Trust is supplied with meters
from all the meter works IN the city; resolu-
tion was passed by the Board directing that
each establishment should have their proper
tion; there had been complaints that some
manufacturers got more than Others and hence
the resolutions the prices are uniform; the fire.
brick are purchased by the Chief Engineer; no
pro ais are opened for them; a number of
partles have been furnishing them the bills for
the brick are examined every month; all bills
are referred to the apprO pirate committees in
dorsed first by the Chief EGgmeer, and then by
a majority of the COMMITTEES; they are then
passed by the Board, and after they are paid
they are examined by the President Of the
BOard the sub-committees are supposed to
examine the bills after being indorsed by the
Chief; bills have been laid over and returned
for correction
Q. Do you know of any Trustee, agent or EN-
plOyes OF the Works being interested, directly OF
indirectly, in any contract for coal or other sup.
plies to the Works? A. / know of none. O. Dc
you know whether any o. the present or former
members of the Board of Trustees are interested
in any coal company that furnishes the Works
with coal? A. | nave heard that some oil the
former Trustees were interested in the Pennsyl
vania Coal Company, aud | have heard OF
Trustee, now in the Board, having stock in tn
Shaton Coal Company. 1000 tons of coal were
purchased from the Cameron Coal Company
One OF the officers OF the company from New
York negotiated the contract for the
coal; he (the agent) offered to furnish
il ior less than coal could be obtained
from the Pennsylvania or Westmoreland, anC
that was the reason he got the contract. The agen
introduced himself to the Board. The price
paid for il was about 50 or $3.50 per ton; there
was no agent in this city representing the Game
ron Coal Company; when they commenced tC
deliver the coal they employed Robert s. Garri
son, of this city, as an agent. The coal has
been reported as good by the employees of the
Trust Nathan Hilles, member OF the Board
and in the coal business, says it is good, though
IL looks bad; the Engineer has been docking tn
company ten per cent. when the coal is del
Snrod wet; it is generally mixed with harde
oai ,bp,, gas is made. The Chief Engineer o
ASSISTANTS could give all the information neceS
sary in reference to 1t, ,t,
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