Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-12-03
A CARD FROM MIR. RONBURY.
OFFICE ALEXANDRIA GAS WORKS,
CAMERON STREET FRONT,
ALEXANDRIA, Va, December ;, 1888.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, December 3, 1851
A communication appeared i'll the GAZETTE on
Friday, the both instant over the signature "i
Many Gas Consumers, in which the following
sentence occ!lrs IF one wishes To See OF what
poor quality il the gas is, let him just glance ut
The ceiling of any where gas is used and see
how it is blackcned over the gas burner"
Now smoke is no evidence of poor gus. but
rat her the contrary. The unconsumed smoke of
carbon OF which complaint is made only shows
imperfect combustion, caused, probably, by Il foul
pipe or burner. For good light il is necessary
that the gas rs it leaves the burner should be-
spread ont thin us possible, SO rs not only To
furnish Il large lightgving surface, but to expose
every atom %! its carbon and hydrogen to the ac-
ton of the oxygen of the air. The very best gas,
if ignt1d is it leaves an open pipe, gives but
little light and very dense column of smoke.
Screw Il burner on, and Immediately much less
consumption Of gas furnishes Il brilliant light and
no smoke. In the one case the column Of gas cx-
poses 4 coin parativcy small surface to the action
of the oxygen in the other it is spread out to the
ihiuucss Of Il sheet of paper and every particle 81
it fully acted upon. 4 foul burner or pipe clog
scd with rust aud scales of iron diminishcs the
pressure on the gas To that extent that on leaving
the burner ii does not assume the ti,l-tail form
which il should for perfect combustion, but rather
like one from open pipe, and smokes. This
principle Of combustion applies to other illumi-
mating agents is well rs gas Take for instance,
Il students lamp; ignite the wick without the
chimney and II dense column Of smoke with little
light is the result Place the chimney on and a
strong current Of air rusllcs in, destroying the
smoke and giving brilliant light. This subject
might be mare fully elaborated. but We pass
on to other matters. Before do. however. might
not suggest, with all due Difference, if il would
not hc more proper Ia make complaint at the gas
office instead of the GAZETTE office in regard tn
the supply quality furnished to Many Gas
Consrlincrs:' II they will aud we do not redress
their grievances then we will be justly liable to
cclIsurc One "f the chief difficulties i'm regard t.
more full supply of gas grows out of the size OF
the mains They are not only too small, but
there are not enough of them. From Columbus
street on Duke to Henry and from Queen to King
Oh Lee there arc no pipes. thereby reducing the
quantity ut gas To consumers. On King street
from Columbus Ia the head Of King st. there is
but Il 3-inrh main and most Of the streets running
north aud south are not interSected with mains
The Gas Works were hult thirty odd years ago
When they first commenced to supply gas there
were hut 900 consumers At present here are
seven hundred and ility--it being in the early
history of gts. that provision WAS not inadc for
the future which should have been done by an
ticipatin@ large increase of consumers. The
Committee on Light have this and other matters
in the manufacture a"d distribution of gas under
consideration now. aud it will be acted on in due
time, so take it for granted that there is more
complaint Of the quantity rather than quality OF
gas supplied The highest object of my ambition
is 10 satisfy consumers, but would say to then,
that there iHScparnblc difficulties connected
with the management of Gas Works which
have never rs yet been overcome. IL is so i'm all
Gas Works. in this country and in Europe, in n
variety Of ways, which time would fail me to
cnnmcratr. and whilst you are enjoying your light
of IN evening, those very difficulties may be con-
fronting rs. have thus cndeavorcd briefly and
courtconsly | hope, TO reply to Many Consum-
crs, nothing cxtcnuating nor aught, set down in
ma linn fI.f ~.
motto by the same author:
ITO thine own self be true then it follows as
the night the day thou can'sl not be false to any
man. J. RoXEuRY, Supt.