Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-18
OUR GAS WORKS
Viewed From a Forsisa and Grill.
Cal Standpoint.
The Improvements, and In What They
Consist-Comparative Consumption
of Gas-What the City
Has Used.

The following correct and elaborate &C.
count of the improvements at the gas works
is from the American Gas.LigM Journal:
Some time since the trustees Of the
Wheeling gas works had the conclusion
forced upon them that the old manufactur-
ing establishment had outliyed its useful
ness and capacity, and determined to ap-
ply to Council for authority to make the
alterations and additions necessary to meet
the increasing demands of consumers of
gas. The Wheeling works are owned and
managed by the town authorities; and TO
the credit of those in charge of municipal
matters in this place it must be said that
no sooner did the trustees apply for the de-
sired authority than it was cheerfully
granted, Last fall the trustees entered in
TO a contract with Mr.. VIM. Gardner, of
Pittsburgh, Pa, to furnish and erect all the
latest improved gas machinery necessary to
complete q new sixteen.inch works. The
work of Mr.. Gardner has been most salts
factory. He carried out the letter and
spirit OF his contract without bubble, and
the trustees have accepted his work and
express themselves as highly pleased with
the results attained.
The retort house plant embraces three
benches of skies, erected and fitted up un-
der the style and fittings of the system
known as the pittsburgh setting" The
retort house is covered with a wrought iron
trussed roof, with ventilator, angle iron
purlins, and cast iron gutter. The machin-
cry consists Of one horizontal boiler and
one upright boiler, both rugged and fitted
out in the latest modern style. There is
one rotary exhauster and engine, with all
the necessary 16 inch connections. The
capacity ofthe exhaUster is 100, 900 feet every
"a hours There are two multituoular
water condensers, with lG.inch bypass con-
pections, with one l6inch blank outlet for
an additional condenser when the make
shall demand its erection. Each condenser
is l. feet high, and has 222 two inch tubes,
with water connection and overflow pipes.
The capacity of the condensers is 100000
cubic feet each twenty-four hours.
One Standard washer.scrubber, OF
100000 feet capacity, with engine and
all necessary steam connections, has been
placed in position. The purifiers are four
in number of cast iron, the dimensions OF
each OF which are IS by % feet, by 50
inches in depth, fitted with four wrought
iron covers, holding down clips, etc, and
four LAYERS OF ash lime trays to each box.
Each purifier rests on three bars of inch
channel iron, supported by six cast iron
columns. Also, one 16inCh center seal,
with rotary wheel and pinion, tar reservoir
and syphon. Connected with this depart
ment are two hydraulic lifts Tor raising
and lowering the purifier covers, having
lattice girders with carriage. The purifiers
are calculated to purify l, 100000 cubic feet
each "a hours. The station meter, with
meter bypass and all necessary Ginch
connections was made and erected by
Helme 4 McIlhenny, of Philadelphia, Pa,
and will pass one million cubic feet each
"A hours. A large portion of the machin-
cry was constructed by the Kerr Murray
Manufacturing Company, of Fort Wayne,
Ind.
Superintendent James NJ DILLON, to whom
great praise should be awarded fer his
energy,in the matter of the new works, had
a watcBful eye over the progress OF con-
struction, and feels very justly elated over
the appearance and working of the new es-
Enlistment, The cost of the structure and
equipments approximate $4,000. 1t will
be readily seen, from the following figures,
that the price of gas in Wheeling is very
low, and Mr. Dillon thinks that the lowest
figure has not yet been reached. On July
lst, 1875, the price of gas was reduced from
81 so to 81 80. On March 1st, 1877, 1t was
further reduced to $3.50 and the last re-
ductioD, which was made on January LIST,
1879 lowered il to $l.20, with ten per cent.
off for payment within ten days after the
rendering OF the bill, which virtually
makes the present price Sl.0S net. In 1851
1854, 600 cubic feet were made. This year
it is estimated that the production will
reach lOO, 0OO, 900 cubic feet. The total rev.
enue for last year was $92, 429.6l, to which
must be added the value of gas burned by
the city in its street lamps and public
buildings, and for which no charge is
made In 1851 the public lamps consumed
l,225,9OO feet, and the public buildings,
such as the city hall, police stations engine
houses, etc, used SOL, $50 cubic feet out
of a total output of 100000 cubic feet
for that year. In 1879 there were l.SOO
consumers, and to-day there are $500. The
Trustees under which these improvements
have been made are DR.. T. II. Logan, Pres.
ident, and Messrs. Robert Simpson, and
Thomas E. Lewis.
1t is to be hoped that the Richmond Va
people will take counsel from the excel
lent example set by the Wheeling folks;
and instead of seeking to delay and retard
progressive action. do what they should
have done long ago-go ahead and extend
their works, in order that the people of the
city may enjoy the blessings OF plentiful
supply Of cheap gas.