The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-18
TIE GAS PROBLEM.

The Capacity or the New York Gas
Works Severely Testod-The Result Yet
an Open Qucstion-Thc Struggle Be-
tween Light and Darkncss-The Effect
OF the Heavy Weather-An Explanation
from One OF the strikers-A Clear In
sight Into the Labor Of n Gas Man.
The prospects OF the gas strikers appear to I'M
prove with each day. The fact Is now being very
clearly demonstrated that the large gang Of work
men at present In the building cannot perform the
labor which was accomplished by the men now on
the strike. After trial OF nearly two weeks, In
which was to be expected according to the officers
OF the company, that all the new men would have
acquired experience SUFFICIENT to enable them to
perform the work. 1t turns out that between three
and four hundred laborers are not capable ofmakng
the same quantity of gas which about eighty were
accustomed to furnish. The ofncers CT the CON-
pany may exclude the representatives Of the press
from the interior OF their works. This, to say tho
least Is very suspicious and Is to be taken for cir
cumstantial evidence that things not all right;
yet 1t certainly lies within the power Of those in
charge to refuse all such information to the public.
This system has been pursued by superintendent
Mowton from the outset, and he has imagined that
he held the key to the secrets OF that horrible,
smoky retort room.
THE TELL-TALE GAS TANKS.
given, from day to day, true showing OF the work
done at the retorts. They have been eagerly
watched, not only by the discharged strikers, but
by the police and newspaper men, few days age
the rising Of the large tank on Twentyirst street
seemed to warrant the prophecy that s the New
OF the strikers demands 1t was known that the
force was much larger and that the company was
expanding vast sums OF money in maintaining the
police and watchmen on duty but this was deemed
to be It's own and not the pubc's business. SO
were not particularly Interested in knowing from
whence 1t came.
Up to yesterday the triumph OF the company
seemed certain, but as the fog and heavy weather
settled down over the city the officers exhibited
unmistakable signs OF uneasiness. The darkness Of
the day made the requisition for gas heavier than
at any time since the beginning OF the strike, and
the consumption during such W. Gay a. YESTERDAY
tween twice and three times as large as during the
night. In that portion Of the city below Grand
to the streets and the stores and saloons above
Printing House square. The the great num-
during such a dismal afternoon as yesterday, con-
sumo many thousands Of feet OF gas, are at night
either totally dark or tlnmined by q solitary Jet.
During the haziest portion OF yesterday there was
scarcely an Office or counting room In the city
which was not forced to resort 10 artificial light.
company were severely tried. number OF men
had lett the works In the morning who were I'M
able any longer 70 endure me Sanden with
the unfavorable circumstances. Soon 1t was no.
tlced that the smaller tanks In the main yard qua
not rise, and the gradual sinking OF the monster
casometer in the new yard told only too plainly
That the company was losing ground.
"a THE COMPANY's CONFIDENCE ASSUMED OR REALY
The company claim that they have made ar
ranQements by which gas will be supplied to their
customers.u This, 1t is asserted by many, refers
to connection made, somewhere In the vicinity Of
Grand street, with the mains of the Manhattan
Company. The officers Of the New York Company
sto,lty DENY that such is the fact but there seems
to be good reason for believing the rumor Certain