The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-06
GOSSIP ABOUT GAS.
THE PRESENT SHORT SUPPLY soon
TO BE REMEDIED.
Tho New RctOrts Nearly Ready fol
Uso, when More Gas and Bot.
ter Light is Promised.


ter Light is Promised.
Lately our people have been talking very
muchabout the lack OF light. Their gas
bills were duly presented. and unless
promptly paid the additional per cent. was
added with cheerful alacrity, and IL this
was not paid the gas was whacked of, and
the unfortunate and impceunious subscri-
Der 10 the city gas-works was left to NOPE
i'm darkness. These actions on the part OF
the gas-oflicials indicated bold and well
regulated department, and when the man
with good intent and a sufficicncy OF the
whcrewithal put down his monthly
assessment for gas and pocketed bis re-
ceipt and afterwards found his lights flick.
ering. he naturally became irate, and to-
wards the Gas Committee and all con-
nected with the manufacture OF light f0I
the city sent vengeful thoughts. But all
this could not be helped. for in response to
the demands OF the public the Council de-
terminsd some time since to put In new
improvements so complete and compass
ing such innovations rs would give us not
only better light but light at price less
than ever paid before. This wOIk is now
I'm progress, and il is simply matter OF
sheer impossbility for Mr.. Higgins or any
other man TO pull down the old works and
put i'm place new ones without serious in
reference with the supply OF gas. Mr.
John II. Knowles yesterday addressed the
following explanatory note TO Mr.. Higgins
chairman OF the Committee on Light:
OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT
CITY GAs-WORKs.
RICHMOND, VA, October ., 1888. )
John VI. Higgins, Esq:
Dear Sir,-In response to your interrog.
atorieS i'm regard TO the meagre supply Of
gas at this time | can say with sincerity
! that il is what feared would occur before
the completion OF our improvements.
For several weeks past our energies have
been greatly taxed in consideration ol
keeping full supply to consumers and
street-lampS. The retort-house men and
other attaches have worked heroically
We have only fifty-nine retorts in use, al
told, and the make has been unprecedent-
ed. considering the accumulation OF carbon
| in all OF them. The make at present /:
362, 100 and the put-out 39S.000 cubic feet
| We will have TO work under this severe
strain. the margin OF producing power be-
/ ing ont OF the question, until we are re-
! lleved by using the new benches, which
am happy to sag will be ready TO charge by
the 10Th OF the present month, as we have
already fred up the furnaces of several of
the benches to temper the retorts and gra-
dually prepare them for charging.
/ The severe storm OF Wednesday last
/ threw Holder No. out OF use by breaking
one OF the chairs and guide wheels and
other portions Of the gearing. This acci-
dent retarded the full pressure on the
mains at extreme points oi consumption
/ will mention in connection with the
above that we had los retorts in good
working order at tins time last year, AS OF
! which were removed to make room for the
erection OF our new benches.
Very respectfully,
JONI III. KNOWLES, superintendent.
When persons are acquainted with tho
great revolution which has. been going on
at the gas-wOrks during the past few
months in making preparations for the
manufacture OF better article and more oi
it, they will not be surprised at the diff
Guilty at present in properly lighting the
city.
Under the old system there were 10S re-
torts, with a capacity OF 100000 cubic feet
unGer tue new system, which will be COM
pleted per contract about the middle OF tho
present month. there will be ten benches OF
six retOrts each, 14X1G feet in size, the
whole range having capacity OF between
500, 600 and G00,0 cubic feet. The last OF
these retOrts were finished yesterday.
Since the commencement of the improve
ment ffty-nine Of the old retorts have been
necessarily out OF use, and it is greatly tC
| 1T - ba capapaiffna that thaN have
done so well with the means at their COM
mand. In a few weeks from now every
thing will he in full blast and there Will be
plenty of gas Of excellent quality equal
TO eighteen-candle power. In the mean
time it is possible that for few nights the
Gas will be turned of the street lamps III
order that citizens may have the full bene'
fix Of the light in their houses and stores.
Superintendent Knowles Yesterday said
that four benches, with six retorts each, on
the east side OF the works, have lids on,
with fire in the furnaces, in order to TEN.
per them. 1t takes ten or fifteen days gene.
rally to temper, but the Superintendent
AYERS that by the 18th OF this month al
will be don't. On the west side there
are three benches, with six retOrts each,
and these have lids, and will be ready
at the time above mentioned. This will
give an ample supply Of gas for private
consumers and street-lamps. When Mr.
Knowles was asked about the gas sup
nlv he remarked: "The great astonish
mcnt is how we have managed to pul
through. every circumstance considered
as well as we have. 1t has simply been by
working the men almost to DEATH" Mfr
Higgins is giving his closest attention tC
the matter, and knowing that the public
holds him responsible, will not leave sim
gle space for just censure.