The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-13
Amount Of gas generated in "a hours, GOO,OOO
Very respectfully,
JOHN II. KNOWLES,
Superintendent.

Very respectfully,
JOHN III. KNOWLES,
superintendent.
1t will be observed that this is n formula
OF the estimated cost OF operating the works
for twenty-four hours, and applied TO a
product of COO, 900 feet OF gas made in that
time. This production would be Is, 200, ,0OO
feet for each month III the year. Now,
taking the past year rs the basis, the city
only consumes about G,000,000 feet in July
and about 5000, 600 feet average for the SIX
months from April to October, and in De-
cember. the largest months consumption
ever had, about 100000 feet. The man.
agers at the works will tell you that the
cost of gas per thousand feet varies very
much with the quantity produced; in pc
riOds OF large production being much less
than i'm periods Of small. The query then
would naturally occur, what the gas the
city actually consumes during the entire
year would cost under the above estimate.
1t is plain that the estimate does not pur-
port TO give that information. Fortunately
we are able to supply ii.
The above estimate Of cost OF 1S,G00,00O
feet for the month OF December applied to
the actual consumption OF less than 14,0O0,-
400 feet would give the cost for December
534 cents per thousand. An examination
of the records for the past year will show
that the cost Of the gas consumed during
the entire year was 243 cents more than the
cost in December. Add this TO 533 cents
cost in December, and the result IL, cost for
the entire year under the above estimate,
rs cents in the holder. Ii Is unnecessary
to pursue this inquiry further. Objection
is urged TO the measure we recommend
that it will deprive men OF employment.
This objection has been urged against the
introduction Of all labOr-saving devices
the printing-press, the reaper, the sewing
machine. 1t grows out OF the sympathy
naturally enlisted for the laborer Temporal
rily Misplaced, but which fails TO look be-
yond 10 the effect upon the class. All labor
saving methods disturb temporarily the
emplOyment OF individuals, but result ulti-
mafely in benefit TO the laborer himself.
Objection is also. urged on the ground
that water-gas is dangerous TO LIE. TO the
practical mind q sufficient answer to this is
the rapid progress this gus has made in
public favor. To-day il occupies more
than half the field in the city OF Baltimore
aud nearly half in the city OF New York.
IL is claimed that numerous deaths in the
city OF New York have proved IL 10 be dan
eerous. To whom should we go fer in
formation as to this allegation but the
Board Of Health OF that city? And what
do they say S-thst they have considered
the charge carefully; that water-gas Is ex-
tensiyeiy used in New York, both In pub
lie and private buildings, and that there is
no ground for the charge that II Is In any
respect more dangerous than coal-gas; and
their report Is signed by Professor Cband-
ler. president OF the Board, president also
OF Columbia College, and doubtless known
by reputation TO some members of this
Board.
This is certainly not an er-pdrfe opinion.
1t Is the very tribunal TO which, seeking
the truth OF these charges, We would
apply.