The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-17
DEATH DEALING STUFF"
OPINIONS OF THE PEOPLE As To THE
CITY GAS.
Its Illuminating Quality Poor Its
OdOrs POtsOnous-A Change
Demanded.

IIemanOe0.
Death-dealing stuff" That's what n
doctor calls the compound the lOng-suffer-
ing, patient people are paying the city for
under the name OF GAS. 1t was bad enough
that they bad TO put up with the loss OF a
large portion Of its Illuminating power,
with higher bills and broken promises.
With heroic fortitude they endured these
Ills until the lntolerable stencil and poi
sonous vapor from this so-called gas filed
every dwelling and place OF business, and
aroused the indignation Of suffering COM
munity.
THE PEOPLE Is EARNEST NOW.
Communications on the subject are pour
ing In upon us. We can only give such
extracts from them as will show the gas Of
ficials that the people are terribly in earnest
In demanding an immediate abatement OF
the nuisance and thorough reformin the
management OF the gas-works.
HORRIBLE IMPURITIES.
A doctor says: Tonight. In addition
to the ANNOYANCE OF insufficient light, what
gas we have comes to us charged with the
most horrible impurities, such as cannot
be taken into the human system without
extreme danger to health, and In many
cases even to life. There Is great fault
somewhere. and 1t is the duty OF those
who profess to represent Us In the City
Council to see where it Is and remedy the
evil. 1t is impossible to estimate the in
jury the city is sustaining from this cause.
What stranger stopping IN one Of our hotels
tonight would be willing to make Rich
mond his home!
"We do not care so much for cheap gas
as we do for good article. Let the city
fathers give Us good, pure gas, enough Of it,
and no more such death-dealing stuff as is
furnished us tonight, and there will not.
be much complaint as to the price paid
for it,"
" "INPAMoUs, OBNOXIOUS: UNHEALTHY GAS"
Another writer says: Your subscriber
begs to call the attention OF the City Coun-
ell and the Superintendent OF the City Cas-
Works to the infamous, obnoXious. and
unhealthy gas that is now being dispensed
to the seventy-fye thousand Inhabitants OF
the city OF Richmond. We can do with
out electric lights, but for goodness sake
give us good gas"
PEOPLE MADE SICK.
One OF the heaviest taxpayers in the
city, who Is at the head OF one OF our
largest Observation-Disclosures says: So
great has been our suffering from this infa-
nous gas we have been compelled to shut
it off and use candles to conduct our busi-
ness. AT my own home myself and family
were made sick by it, and | have had to
resort to the use OF students lamps. |
would rather pay $4,000 year to COM
petent gas engineer to take charge of our
works than endure this state OF things
longer"
RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED.
Another demands "the resignation of
the Superintendent OF the Gas Works, the
Gas Committee OF the Council. and every
body connected with the manufacture OF
gas"
A number OF instances are mentioned by
others OF the i'll effects Of the gas in sick
chambers, and all plead for relief.
A CHANGE MUST BE HAD.
1.-The gas is much worse than 1t was last
winter. The $4,000 spent on new retorts
and new purifiers have made it meaner
than it was before" said an intelligent
gentleman who has been observing the gas
all the winter. There are three things to
complain of: 1st. The lack OF illuminating
power in the gas. No matter what the
phOtometer may be said TO show, this gas
does not give good light, and the gas-bills
are higher than ever. I'd, The gas is pu-
trid-it is not properly purified, and the
sulphur, which is doubly deleteriOus sub
stance, in that it robs the light and makes
a foul and unhealthy odor, is not properly
taken off. Sd. The pressure is bad"
"NOw, the only remedy can see is to
employ an expert to take charge OF the
manufacturing OF our gas. He should be
man who has had experience; who has
been a successful gaS-maker, and who not
only understands the business practically.
special training TO fit him to detect difficult
ties and know how to overcome them
A GAS BOARD SUGGESTED.
Another gentleman said: Our people all
now see the evil. think the remedy is to
put the gas-works in the hands OF Il board
Of business men. Let the city keep pos
session OF them, but manage them by
board instead OF a Council ilcommittee. The
City Council finds that the best way 10
manage the police. Ii finds that the best
way TO manage the James-riyer improve
ment. May it not also find II the best way
TO manage the gas-works ? I'm other words,
divorce the gas-wOrkS and politics. En-
ploy the best expert talent. Make good
gas and charge fair price for it..
THE sUPERINTENDENT'S EXPLANATION.
Here is what the Superintendent OF the
Gas-W Works has TO say about this death
dealing stuff:
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF TIED
CITY GAs-W WoRKS.
RICHMOND, Va; January, Ii, 1884. y
4 CARD.
Complaints having reached me OF impure
gas, deem it necessary to inform the pub
lie that on yesterday discovered that the
purifiers were not doing their work as they
should and commenced at once 10 ascertain
the cause. After diligent search | have
discovered it, and the correction will be
made as speedily as possible. is no I'M
common thing for gas-works 1t this season
OF the year to be caught IN the same fix.
We. OF course, have to find out the cause
before applying the remedy.
JOHN Ii. KNOWLES, superintendent.
Manchester and Chesterfield.
A full and very interesting meeting OF
Ruth Council. No. 3, Order OF Chosen
E,;onIe ,roo holI at nHH-EalloWs' Hall