The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-27
THEGAS QUESTION.
The Cause Of Poor Light anu i:s
Remedy.

\ communication appeeiea 1" yo"h
journal some few days since, wishing
that some person could tell why it is
that our city gas gives so much poorer
light now than it did some few months
since. Asthese questions have not been
answered by any one, | as a citizen and,
as believe, having a knowledge of the
causes why our gas seems to give 80
bad a light, will endeavor to answer
these questions, 10y stating the reason
and the only remedies to overcome this
bad light OF which so much complaint
is now made.
In the first place will say as the
nights now have become so heightened
there is perhaps three times the amount
of gas consumed as there was in the
past summer months, which feel sat
isfed is more gas than the capacity OF
the works will allow in their present con
dition, caused more from the smallness
OF the gas mains than from the gas
apparatus not from the quality OF the
coal nor from the management OF the
works. 1t is a well known fact to many
of our citizens that these gas works
were constructed, or at least the mains
were laid for works not to exceed So
600 feet in twenty-four hours, with q
pressure of less than two inches, but
the increase of consumption has run it
up to 100000 feet and perhaps will
REQUIRE more this coming win
ter; the result OF which will be
that a pressure OF three or more
inches will be required to get any light
at ALL as no gas will burn without
pressure. While this extraordinary
pressure will only reach citizens near
the gas holder, those living at dis
lance, with small mains at their doors
will receive comparatively no pressure,
and but little light. 1t lisa fixed rule laid
down in most scientific works on gas,
that where one hundred thousand feet
of Gas are consumed, the leading main
should not be less than twelve inches in
diameter and should run near the entire
length of the leading street. The av-
erage diameter throughout the city
shonld not be less than six inches
while our gas works will not average
three inches This being the case our
citizens need not expect good light until
some remedy is adopted to give Suf-
ficient pressure, when good light can
then tie obtained Before suggesting
remedies ! will just remark that the
capacity of the gas apparatus Is too
small. There shonld be at least two
more approved modern benches OF re-
torts, with at least twice the storage ca
pacity for gas; and the old clap-trap
purifiers should he thrown into the
creek and two OF sufficient size, with
the mproyements, take their places.
What i would first recommend which
would remedy the evil at the present
time to a great extent, is an eXhaustcr,
and will explain, in few words, It's
use. First, its object would bc to re.
lieve the pressure on the retortS, pump
ing the gas out and sending it forward
to the gas holder, thus preventing the
deposit in retOrts of unaccOuntahle
amounts Of carbon, which now destroys
the retorts for carbonizing in very
short time. 1t will also enable the su-
perintendent to weight his gas holder
sufficient to send forward greater
amount Of pressure to give light to the
consumers. This eXhauster is used on
all gas works where the consumption is
as large as at this city. 1t would he
considered by gas engineers indispenSa-
Die where so great a quantity Of small
main is used as we have here and the
extreme distance the gas is carried.
Again, another remedy i'll connection
with the exhauster (for no gas works in
INV opinion should he without one) i
what is called the lock up gas holder,
one Of sufficient size to be placed at
each end OF the city to fill with gas by
dav aud 10y night, TO act as a governor.
equalizing the pressure throughout the
CITY and at the same time giving more
storage for Your gas. This is remedy
often used when mains have become too
small.
Again. another remedy; the last and
I believe the best, is to take up the old
gas mains: use what you can of them,
and throw the balance away. Put down
large ones and increase your gas stor-
age at the works at least 200 per cent.
Then YOU may fear no complaint from
consumers on account OF poor light.
The result will be their gas bills will be
20 per cent. more on account OF the
sufficient pressure, causing the consum-
er to burn more gas and at the same
time yielding much larger profit to
the gas works. Some OF these
changes must lie made and | would
advise those that have the matter in
charge to look after it at once. ! feel
satisfied in saying that after severe cold
weather sets in, when condensation
commences, that it will he lml ossible
to keep up the supply OF gas that is now
demanded by the city, and | fancy we
will see q good deal of dorkness the
coming winter. With these remarks |
will close. CITIZEN.
shot.
n,o low Lost wool, Mr. Iamrs "