The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-22

csplshment; these must always be left TO
'ne direction OF the officer In charge.
1reat changes have taken place IN the
past lew years in the economical manufac-
ture OF coal-gas, and we think that our
works should be under the management OF
askllled and competent gas engineer, VINO
would ut all times keep well informed as
10 the best methods OF gas manufacture,
and be able TO produce the best results
with the least expenditure OF money.
we therefore recommend that the Office OF
superintendent be abolished, and that the
oillce OF gas engineer be created, and that
thoroughly competent gas engineer be
elected TO fill that office.
SUPERINTENDENT KNOWLES.
IL is, perhaps, proper in this connection
10 add that In this recommendation we do
not wish to be understood as rejecting in
any manner upon the personal or official
integrity OF the worthy gentleman who has
for so many years been at the head OF this
department. We desire simply to empha-
size our opinion that our gas-works cannot
be successfully managed until they are
placed in charge OF an engineer thoroughly
familiar with modern methods OF gas man.
uiacture.
LARGER GAS MAINS NEEDED.
One OF the questions Of most concern TO
gas-consumers has been the insufficient
supply OF gas, OF which there has been
most complaint in the western section OF
the city. II appears that for many years
the pipes laid for distributing the gas were
very small-Only three and four inches
and that. too, in what are now the most
- 1ffx of
years few six-inch pipes have been used.
These small pipes are entirely inadequate
for the present largely-increascd cOnSump-
ton, and until larger mains are laid it will
be impossible for consumers TO secure
q satisfactory supply Of gas. Besides.
when gas is forced by pressure
long distances through small pipes much
Of its Illuminating property is lost, so that
gas which is seventecn-candle power at
the works will. when it reaches the con-
sumer on upper Main, Franklin, or Grace
streets, be several candle-power less. This
necessitates the use OF q larger number OF
burners than would otherwise be necessa-
ry, which will explain why. during the
present winter months, the gas-bIlls OF
many consumers have been so excessively
high. The remedy for this evil is such a
system OF large gGs-malnS as VIII ulS-
tribute the gas at uniform pressure, for
this is as much needed as that it should be
made Of pure quality and proper illumi-
mating power.
WASTE AT STREET-LAMPS.
The Committe on Light have introduced
a proper system OF accounts at the lower
and upper gas-works, but they have not
been sufficiently long in use to furnish any
data for this investigation.
We are OF the opinion that much money
could be saved to the city by the exercise
of greater economy IN the public consump-
ton OF gas. Our street-lampS have burn
ers using three, four, five. and six feet of
gas per hour. We are informed that in
large cities three and four-foot burners.
with gas Of proper purity and under pro-
per pressure, are found TO be perfectly sa-
tisfactory. AS we have 1,25S public lamps
q great saving could be effected by the use
OF four-foot burner.
WASTE n PUBLIC OFFICES.
There seems to be no limit to tie con-
SUMPTION OF gas in the public offices and
public buildings Of the city. The follow
ing table shows the consumption for the
month OF January, 1884;