The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-26
THE GAS WE BURN.
IMPROVEMENTS NOW BEING MADE BY
THE CITY AT HER WORKS,
Together with Somc Account OF Coal
Mining and Gas.Manufacturfng
I'm OIden and Present Times.

Days, SAYS that ain the infancy OF the
present century" man namsd Henfrey
undertook to make light here by gas, and
that he erected tower near the intersec-
ton OF Main and Eleventh streets and sur
mounted Il with pipes and Jets from which
a grateful illumination was TO be shed all
over the business portion OF the city.
40 The gas was generated in n kind OF still
In the basement and conducted by pipe to
the burners" 1t seems that the expert
ment was more OF wonder than sue
cess. Years and years passed in which
the city streets lay in darkness. only re-
lieved by an occasional oil-lamp shining
from post in the street or from the win
dow Of some enterprising shop-keeper.
HOUSEHOLD LANTERNS.
In those days every well-proyided house,
hold had its lantern, and when the moon
was not brightly beaming and ladies wish
ed TO 20 in perfect comfort from house to
house man led their way and lighted
their path with lantern.
Henfrey no doubt worked his light upon
scientific principles and while it is not
recorded whether he used coal or wood or
other gas-producing material, the proba-
bility is that II he had been properly en-
couraged he could and would have de-
veloped his invention, and given Richmond
the advantage in that ancient day OF being
the best-lighted city in the country.
But we were ever conservative rs we
say" old-fogyish," as others know-and
we never could be brought to a nice appre-
citation OF the value OF a city brilliantly
lighted. We prefer darkness rather than
hight.
DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT.
To this day the police authorities, with
the amplest power as to when to light the
lamps, fail to observe sometimes that
though the moon is scheduled. black clouds
veil her light, and the streets are as dark as
coal-mine.
The Council Committee on Light and
the Superintendent Of the Gas Works say
that this is not their fault that the police
have the widest discretion in the premises.
That being so, il is TO be hoped and be-
leyed that there will be an improvement
in this direction hereafter, and that it shall
so continue until Richmond asserts her
claim as one OF the progressive cities OF
this land, and in so doing shall adopt the
electric light.
THE GAS-wORKs.
There is no fear that in our day the cleo
trio light will expel gas from use. The con-
sumption OF this article is daily grow
ing, especially for heating purposes,
and the Council were wise in providing
for the enlargement OF the city's manufac-
tory, which last winter almost failed did
indeed fail so far as supplying sufficient
gas at all hours to all parts Of the city was
concerned.
After deal Of agitation the Council re-
jected all propositions to part in the slight
est degree with the control OF the works.
There was a lengthy discussion OF the ques-
ton. and after that action was taken, and
the great good accomplished was that the
city pledged herself TO enlarge the works I;
to make all the gas needed, and sell 1t after
February 1st for S1.50 per thousand feet, rs
the Committee on Light had long time
before recommended. The present price
is S2 per thousand.
The price really should be reduced from
the time the new retorts go to work, but
that the city's finances shall suffer no yiO-
lent shock it was agreed to postpone the
reduction Of 90 cents on the thousand till
February 1st.
TIE NEW RETORTS.
For the purpose OF eularging the num-
Der of retorts the Council appropriated
312,523; for the purpose OF duplicating
the engine and eXhIuster, and providing
two new purifiers, they voted $500 more.
All OF this work is well underway. There
will be ten new ovens, and in each oven
six rctOrts of the largest size. The manu-
featuring capacity will, when they are fin
ished, be 100000 feet per day, while the
largest consumption hitherto has been 5j2,-
600 per day. The storage capacity in the
holders at the old works is 100000 and
at the new or present works 400, ,000-total,
700, 600 feet. The time is not far distant
when mole storage capacity will be de-
manded, and the idea seems TO be to build
holder uptown, in the neighborhood OF
the pententiary probably, so that the dis
tribution Of pressure may be more equal
than at present.
COAL AND GAS.
Superintendent Charles Campbell, who
had a great hand in locating the new gas
works at Rockets, had in view in selecting
the site its accessibility to the future coal
supply, for at that day the canal was relied
upon TO reach the Kanawha coalfields, and
the coal was b have been boated to the
dock and from the dock to the gas-works,
run in cars on tramway. But the war
coming on work was stopped on the canal.
and il was destined never to reach the
coaifields at all. So the gas-works went on
using Chesterfield coal, as il had from the
beginning been doing, and it answered
very well, and was in good repute here
and also in the North, to which it was
shipped for the same purpose.
But finally the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad pierced the mountains and entered
the coal valleys. To-day its coal trains are
moving along in almost endless procession.
Like the roll of the British drum, the rat
tie Of their wheels never ceases.
In West Virginia the mining is cheaply
done. They merely tunnel into hillside.
In Chesterfield shafts have to be sunk, and
mining is done often at depth OF hundreds
of feet below the surface OF the ground.
Further than that, in West Virginia they
have Goals peculiarly adapted to gas-mak-
ing. Much that they ship Uid Richmond and
Newport's News is for this purpose. Such
is the coal used by us here. 1t is loaded al
the mine and dumped from the car in the
gas-works yard, costing 81 per Qong) ton
GAs-MAKING.
Our gas Is the purified distillation Of bi
luminous coal.
Coal Is placed in retort (Which is 1
closely-sealed iron chamber) with pipe
out the top. A fire OF coke kindled be
meath the retort makes the coal distill its
gases. These go off in the pipe, ana they
first pass through spray OF water, which
partially clears them OF ammonia; next tc
The condenser for further cooling, and tt
be freed OF tar. Next they proceed tc
the "scrubbern for thorough washing ant
to be relieved of all remaining ammonia
and finally are passed through oyster-shel
lime, placed in layers on trays. 10 be cleanset
OF sulphur and carbonc acid. All this done,
wehave city gas, which has only to be passed
| through the station meter and register int
the holder, and thence it reaches you q