The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-22
REPORT ON CITY GAS.
BOARD PUBLICINTEREsTS WORK
fheS Recommend Abolition OF the Office of
Superintendent; Employment OF Gas En-
gineer; Laying of Larger Street.NIains. xc.

A"eS hftoHiWend Abolition OF the ONCE OF
Superintendent; Employment OF Gas En-.
gineer; Laying of Larger Street.NIains, Sc.
The Common Council met at the Coun-
Gil chamber yesterday evening at s O'Clock.
The following members We're present, Mr.
J. T. Ellyson. president, and Messrs.
Adams. Allen, Archer, Bahen, Bowie,
Brauer, Campbell, Clarke. Elicit. Frisch-
korn, Gum, Hargroye, HAYES. Higgins.
Hooper, King, Mcdowell, Metzger. MIL
/ Ter, Phillips, Randolph, Rose, straus, Tur.
pin, and Weisiger.
Messrs. Patton and Hughes were absent
from the city.
Mr.. Catlett detained by sickness.
The president announced that the body
had been convened to receive the report of
the Board OF Public Interests i'm relation to
their investigation Of the Gas Department,
and, as chairman OF that Board. submitted
the following report and resolutions:
To the Honorable the Members of the Com.
mon Council and Board Of Aldermen O. T
the city Of Richmond;
Gentlemen,-In response TO your resolu-
| tons OF January Is and q the Board Of
Public Interests would respectfully rcptift
that they have made dilIgent and earnest
effort to furnish the information asked for
| by your honorable bodies. We have held
many and protracted sessions Of our Board:
have examined u number OF persons, in
| Guiding the members OF the Committee on
Light, the superintendent and Foreman of
/ the Gas-W orks, the Gas Inspector, Au-
ditor, City Engineer, chairman Of Finance
Committee, and many others, besides in-
specting the works and offices of fhe de-
partment. sparlng no pains TO secure full
and accurate information concerning the
condition, management, and needs Of the
Gas Department.
FOUL GAS IN JANUARY.
! Our investigation began at the lower
works, where the gas is manufactured. In
our examination of the works we were ac-
companied by Mr.. John II. Knowles, SUI
! perintendent, and Mr.. w. c. Adams, fore
man. We found the new retOrtS, known
as the Anderson PLAN doing fair work,
although the quantity OF gas made Is much
less than the superintendent estimated
they would produce. His estimate was for
100000 cubic feet OF gas per day. The
contract was for 100000 feet, which the
| foreman informed us had been made for
two days, but under ordinary working the
product was 100000 feet a day. But whilst
]
vide retorts capable Of producing all
the gas required for present needs,
| the apparatus for cOndensng and
purifying had not been enlarged to meet
the increased quantity OF gas manufac-
tured. 1t is true that new purifiers were
under construction, but were incomplete.
and it seemed clear that there was lack
OF proper adjustment between the several
parts Of the establishment. The manu-
featuring facilities had been increased
without at the same time providing addi-
| tional machinery for the proper purifica-
tiOn Of the larger quantity Of Gas to be
made; hence the foul gas so much COM
planned OF in January, and which, we
think, was clearly traceable to this cause.
Indeed, it was admitted by the foreman
| that gas had been passed at least on one oc-
caSion from the retOrts into the holder
without proper publication.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
| The chairman of the Committee on Light
stated that one OF the causes OF the delay
| in having the purifiers ready at the time
the new retorts were finished was the fail
ure Of the Finance Committee TO turn over
to the Committee on Light the $500 APP
propriated for the remOdelling of the gas
works. We had the chairman OF the FL
nance Committee before us, and were in
! formed that it was the custom when
lump appropriation Of this kind was made
10 make payment as the work was done or
contracted for. The "Anderson plan
for increased size of retorts was all that the
Committee on Light had represented to the
Council as needed, and the contract-price
for this work was $4,000. The applica-
ton for additional money for other work
to be done was made early in July, 1883,
and granted July II, 1888, and rs the new
purifiers were not ready until the latter
part of January, 1884, the fault must be
elsewhere than with the Finance Commit
| tee.
THE NEW PURIFIERS.
4 contract was made August Q. 1883,
with Messrs. Talbot IL Sons for the con-
struction Of new purifiers the work TO be
| done bv November /, 1883. under penalty
OF $1,000. These purifiers were to be
/ placed in brick building then used for
backsmith-shOp. Before it could be
utilized for this purpose, however, it was
necessary to remove the forge and tools,
and TO dig out the foundation. This the
| Superintendent was instructed to do. Five
or six days was ample time in which
to have made the removals and dug
the foundation. But it appears that
the shop was not removed, and the Messrs.
| Talbot & Sons were not notified that the
house was ready for them until November
3, 1888, or until two days after the work
was TO have been completed. This delay
released tie MesSrs. Talb0tt& Sons from the
penalty of their bond, and, as they claim,
threw them into the cold and short winter
days. when such work could not be quick
ly or economically done. Mr.. Knowles.
the superintendent, explains his failure
sooner TO remove the shop, that in getting
ready for the new retOTts so much extra
work was required in the blacksmith'S
sbop that il could not have been sooner re-
moved without delaying the use OF the new
retOrts.
The new purifiers were completed the
latter part of January, and we are OF the
opinion that these, with the old, are sufh-
cient TO meet all the demands OF the works
for the present and near future.
In addition to the retorts and purifiers,
what are known as scrubbers and con-
densers are necessary adluncts OF all we'll
equipped gas-works, and are required lor
the proper publication OF the gas. we
sadly need both additional scruDDing ana
condensing facilities. Indeed, theSe, To-
gether with the new purifiers, should have
been provided when the new retorts were
constructed.
THE LIGHT COMMITTEE NOT FRANK.
There seems 10 have been lack oil
frankness on the part OF the Committee on
Light in stating to the Council what was
needed at the lower gas-works when the
sa5. 900 was asked for. The application
was for the "Anderson PLAN" and this
plan stopped at the retort-house. Jhe
chairman says that he knew that addl-
tional machinery for condensing, exhaust.
ino and nnrifying would be needed, but |