The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-22

For average candle-pOwer OF the gas.
refer TO table "F.'
Your Honor will doubtless remember
that informed you in my last annual re-
port that we were preparing plans i'm detail
TO submit to the Committee on Light for
remodeling portion OF the rctort-housc
so rs to afford more generating capacity to
meet the imperative demands.
The drawings and specifications were
executed and furnished by j. Anderson,
OF Cincinnati, reputed to be one OF the best
builders Of rctort benches in America.
The Their Committee on Light, composed
OF the following wel!-known and public
spirited citizens, Captain John y. Curtis
(chairman), Dr. W. II. Scott, l.. Wagner,
&. X. Barksilale, W. :. Gum, Thomas
Potts. and James T.. Phillips. after full ex-
planatiOn and their personal supervision
Of the whole subject, resolved 10 apply to
the Council for the necessary appropria-
ton to make the improvements. The mu-
nicipal election III the mean time coming
on, the subject was not pressed. | dread
ed the approach OF the past winter, know
ing that the quantity Of gas required would
exceed the demands OF the preceding win
ter. and that it would tax 10 the uttermost
every retort in the works TO produce it.
This expectation has been fully realized,
for during the holiday season and the long,
dark. dreary nights, with every retpri in Use
we barely pulled through. Had The slight
est accident, obstruction. or st0ppagc in or
about the works occurred, thereby hinder
ing the production, the city would surely
have been short oflight; and when working
under such severe strain, without mar
gin OF producing power, accidents to ma
chincry and distractions in pipes are more
likely 10 occur than at other times.
After the reorganization of the present
committee | recommitted the drawings TO
the architect for coloring and finish. They
were then submitted 10 the inspection Of
some OF the beSt-SkIlled gas engineers in
and approved by them. The Committee on
Light then, after mature dcliberaton,
adopted the following:
ReSOIred 0he Board Of Aldermen con-
curring), That the sum OF S2j, 900, or so
much thereof a may be needed. be placed
10 the credit Of the Committee on Light 10
be used for the remodelmg OF the works,
the said $3.50 to DE raised by the issuc Of
bonds or in such other manner o. the Com
mittee on Finance may deem best.
This, as YOU are aware, passed the Coun-
I'll at it, last meeting. but failed TO receive
a two-ihrds vote in the Board OF Alder
men; 20 the appropriation was lost. This
| regret exceedingly, but yet hope that cer-
tam members Of the Board may relinquiSh
their opposition and give lis chance to
verify our promise; for II these improve
ments were allowed 10 be cOnsummated it
would not Only supplement our present
producing power and give us Il safe re-
serve. as we ought to have, but save Us
from disaster next winter.
Please excuse me for alluding TO what
occurred about twelve years ago. IT was
well known then to the managers OF the
gas-wOrkS that both holding capacity and
purifying surface were greatly needed
We asked for a new ga.-hoder and set OF
new purifiers with dry centre seal, &c.
The recommendation met with opposition
by cOuncilmcn and outsiders. some OF
them aycrred that another holder was to-
tally unnecessary; that the works had two,
which were built by northern mechanics,
and il they voted the appropriation for n
telescope holder OF such magnitude and
purifiers they would have 10 be sent north
TO get the work done. We reasoned
with the obiectng members. and they voted
for the improvements. Plans, with sealed
proposals, were advertised for. Many local
and northern bids were received, and VIII
liam L. Tanner e Co., Of the Metropolitan
irOn-WOrks. were awarded the holder,
and built il i'm 1872, since which time it has
been in constant use, working from the
start with a. much ease and SmOOthne>S as 4
well-lubricatcd pulley, giving no trouble or
annoyance, and showing an architectural
beauty Of design uncqualled.
Charles Talbot Il Sons were awarded
the contract for the purifiers. Their skilful
construction and efficiency gave entire
satisfaction and deserved praise.
II anything IS intended to be done TO re-
Iieve the works. il should be done at once,
that the brick work may have time TO
thoroughly dry before firing up, say about
September 18th. That the usual increase
Of consumption will take place next fall
and winter we have every reason to cX-
pect, and with our present inadequate
machinery we will be unable 10 meet the
demand. hence | feel it i a duty due alike
to YOU. the Committee oil Light, and my
self, that YOU should lie made acquainted
with these facts in time 10 avoid the un-
pleasant predicamcnt OF being short Of
light in mid-wiutCr.
I'm conclusion, | take great pleasure in
the marked efficiency Of
the officers and employees in the various
Of The works.
All OF winch is respectfully submitted.
JOHN II. KNOWLES,
superintendent.