The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-18
THE QUESTION OF GAS.
An Investigation Demanded bv the ConnciI
Committee ON Liahs.

A meeting Of the Council Committee on
Light was held last night in the Council
chamber. Present, Messrs. John NJ. llig'
gins, chairman. Richard NJ. Iaylor. VIII
liam $. Gum. James y. fni'ups' X. w.
Powers. W. Russell Bowie, and C.. r.
[ Barksdale.
The situation was discussed at some
length.
in the beginning Of the winter the short
supply OF gas was attributaDic 10 the fact
that q number OF the old relorts were
pulled down to make room for the new
ones, and the latter were not got INTO place
as early as was hoped. Butfhe retorts are
all right now. From that source there Is
no trouble. Enough crude gas can be
made. but it cannot be thoroughly purified
fast enough. for the new purifiers are not
We. in working order, though they should
have been two months ago.
There was an allegation or intimatiOn
that the Messrs. Talbot, the contractors,
were responsiblefor the delay. A member
of the firm, however, appeared before the
committee last night and made statement
entirely satisfying the committee that they
could not be held responsible therefor, as
they had 10 wait while the building was
prepared to receive their works
The management OF the gas-works made
explanations TO show that they had used all
reasonable diligence in arranging the
building, and had more than ONCE urged
| the contractors to make haste.
| In reply to question. Superintendent
Knowles said that all this difficulty would
be removed i'm ten days. That done. the
works will nave not only ample retort ca
pacity but sufficient purifying surface.
There was no attempt made last night TO
disguise the fact that during this week the
cas has been very foul, but it was claimed
| that the gas was much better last night,
the existing purifiers having been put i'm
best working order.
Mr.. Knowles said that it was not true, rs
some had inferred from his card, that the
knowledge OF the bad oder OF the gas was
brought to him by complaints OF the pub
! lie; the discovery was made by Mr.. Ad-
ans and reported to him. and prompt mea-
>ures were taken to rectify the trouble as
far as il was i'm their power TO do so.
But the representative OF the Dispatch
present understood it 10 be conceded by
all that at no tune this winter have the
works had purifying surface great enough
to thoroughly purify a supply OF gas such
rs is needed for this city.
Mr.. Bowie asked Mr.. Knowles to what
did he attribute the small supply OF gas in
the western part OF the city. He replied ::
ITO the small pipes" Then he went on
to show that on some of the principal
thoroughfares the pipes were laid years
ago. The sizes he gave. They appeared
TO be very small.
Mr.. Glasgow chairman OF the Finance
COmmlttee)> said that he recalled the fact
that when the water-gas people offered
their proposition the friends Of coal-gas
claimed. and it was one OF their strong
arguments. that the pipes would be too
small for water gas that watcr-gas would
compel the city TO 20 10 great expense TO
lay new pipes. while the present pipes
would serve for some years to come for
coal-gas.
Mr.. Higgins did not agree in this recol-
lection.
A member stated that the complaint OF
insufficient supply was not only heard up
town. but at least as far down aS Twelfth
street.
Mr.. Higgins asked OF Mr.. Glasgow an
explanation OF his resolution recently III.
IrOUucPu Ill TIE DOdlu vi AHici uitH'
Mr.. Higgins understood that resolution
to bring in question the correctness and
good faith of the committee in reporting
the cost OF production Of gas for Decem-
Der.
Mr.. Glasgow insisted that the gas-works
were not making gas and putting it in tue
holder at 60 cents. In reply to remark
he said he did not ask the committee and
officers to resign: he wanted them to stay
and make good gas and cheap gas. He ar
gued that his figures were right. Mr.. Hig'
gins and other members maintained that
thev were not.
There was much talk. necessarily techni-
cal.
The up>hOt of all was that a call wa'
signed by every member requesting the
President Of the Common Council to cal
meeting OF that body for $50 p. NJ. Fri
day [to-day] to appoint Il committee OF
four. who. with three aldermen. shall
make complete investigation OF the city
|