The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-28

cent for the Growing Demands ofth
PubIic-The Changes and Additions Re
quired.
The following communication from thl
Gas Trustees was received by Council las
night and referred to special joint com
mittee consisting of Messrs. Hall, Nc
Adams and Wolvington, from the FRS
Branch. and Messrs. Handlan, Caldwell
A., and Horkheimer, from the Second
The changes recommended and the
amount involved, make the. matters re-
ferred 10 in 1t worthy OF careful reading
WHEELING, W. Va, Jan. 27, 1850.
To de Hon. Mayor and Council Of he City
| Of Whesling:
GENrLEMES-The Trustees OF the Gas
Works respectfully represent 10 your hon
orable body that It Is imperatively neces-
Bary that the capacity OF the Gas Works
should be increased before another win
ter, because Of the already heavy increase
in the consumption Of gas and the pros
pect OF q much greater rate OF increase
during the year, owing to The general re-
viyal In business and the cheapness OF
gas. The expense OF such increase aud
thewo OF repair and reconstruction OF a
part Of the present apparatus will be con.
siderable, and the Trustees believe 1t will
be much more than eau be met with the
available funds ia the hands OF the Gas
Loan Commissioners, added to what can
be spared during the year out OF the re-
ceipts Of the works above current ex-
penses.
One item OF necessary work will be the
reconstruction with new retorts, OF at least
three benches, in the east retort-hsuse,
besides more or less repair TO all the other
benches in that house. This will cost ap.
proximately $1,000.
The storage capacity OF the works is far
less than what Is usual in works producing
like quantity OF gas; and another holder
Is needed badly, and has been needed
for economical working during the pres
ent winter. This would be the case even
II 1t were advisable 10 continue the use OF
the old holder in the main yard, which it
is not, owing to its worn out condition.
The present 100000 feet holder appears 10
have cost, with It's tank and connections,
nearly $4,000. 1t Is not yet definitely
ascertained what one OF the same size
would cost now.
The purifying capacity Of the Gas Works
is indicated by an application Of the rules
OF gas engineers TO be too small for OBJ
tanning the best results during tho period
OF greatest daily production. The Trustees
are not entirely certain OF tho advisability
OF going to the heavy expense of substi-
tuting larger apparatus for this purpose
during this year.
The maximum daily producing capacity
OF the benches OF retorts now at the works,
with the best coal, Is $50 900 cubic feet OF
gas. These figures leave no allowance for
imperfect working, stoppages, "burning
out OF retorts," poor coal or any Contin-
gency whatever, and can only be reached
on occasional days, which may or may not
be the days when that amount Of gas is
called for. The largest single days pro.
duct necessary In 1878 was $50, 400 cubic
feet; in 1879 the figures $4,000 were
reached, an increase OF $500 cubic feet.
At the same rate of increase there will be
needed producing capacity for 3i5, 800 Gu.
bic feet next winter; this we have not and
yet every indication is that there will be
days in next December when we will need
even more gas than the last amount
named. In view OF these premises and
W Alahc leAoouhblC ploNlclOu dkdluht
failure in the supply from accidents, the
Trustees believe that there should be con-
structed four new benches Of five or six
retorts each, These would cost 5000 to
5000.
The experience OF the last two years
proves that the coal house is much too
small, II tho river is 10 be depended upon
as means for supplying coal. The period
when river navigation was suspended,
have several times been long enough for
the stock Of gas-coal to be used up, and the
works be compelled to use inferior coal,
which furnished light yield Of poor gas
which twas expensive to purify. II the
supply Of coal in the future is to come by
river, the coal house should be enlarged,
SO as to hold at least 60, 900 bushels, or say
double Its present capacity. The present
coal-house would suffice, II railroad
switch, tapping both roads, were laid 10
tho works, and the coal brought on by
rail. The latter plan for ensuring regu-
lar supply OF gas.coal, the Trustees believe
would he the better. The gains by it
would be that the best mines could be
dealt with directly and to much better ad-
vantage than where the river is used, the
ceal used would be fresh mined, much
dryer (Which is an important matter), and
shattered less than the river coal, the cost
Of cutting would be avoided, and the car
rying OF very large stock Of coal would
generally be unnecessary. The same
switch could be used for the shipping OF
coke and the delivery Of material at the
works, which now cost considerable for
carting.
The construction OF additional benches
Of retorts and the enlargement Of the coal.
house, or either improvement, will neces.
state further outlay Of money, as more
ground will be needed.
The Trustees beg leave TO suggest that
your honorable body appoint a special
committee with the duty Of examining
and reporting upon the needs OF the Gas
Works, and recommending. to Council
such action as the committee may deem
proper In relation thereto, including the
provision Of such funds as may be neces.
Sary. Respectfully submitted,
q. BAIRD,
GEO. X. WHEAT.
n ~