Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-29
WILL HAVE C0AL-GAS.
THE COMMITTEE ON LIGHT VOTES
AGAINST rwATER-aAs.
Report Of the Subcommittee Who Went
North-To Advertise for Benches
and Another Building.

and Another Building.
A called meeting Of the Committee on
Light was held in the Chancery- Court
room yesterday evening at $50 O'Clock
for the purpose of receiving the report
Of the subcommittee sent North to ex-
anime the different processes OF mann
featuring water-gas and to inquire into
the best mode of increasing the gene
rating capacity Of the gas-works. This
committee consisted OF Messrs. W. 8.
Gum chairman OF the Light Commit
tee), John r. Grimes, and Superin-
tendent w. G. Adams. The report,
which was signed by Messrs. Gum and
Adams, is as follows:
THEIR REPORT.
RIoHMosD, August %, 1888.
10 The Committee on Ltght:
Gentlemen, Your committee appoint
ed at your last meeting 10 visit northern
cities for the purpose OF inquiring into
the best mode of increasing the gene
rating capacity OF the gas-works and i'm
proving the quality of the gas beg to
submit the following report as the result
Of their observations
We first visited Washington and In
spected the gas-works. We ascertained
from their superintendent that they we're
making two thirds coal and one third
water-gas with very good results. The
process used for water-gss is the Granger
and the Lowe and Martin.
We found in Baltimore that every
works in the city were generating water
gas, and giving entire satisfaction to
their consumers. They are making gas
Of a high candle-power and comparative
ly free from impurities. The process
used is the Wilkinson and the Lowe.
In Philadelphia coal-gas is now used
exclusively, but the city authorities have
recently contracted for a water-gas plant
of 100000 cubic feet daily capacity,
and will commence to manufacture as
soon as the works are completed.
In New York city but one works
(the Manhattan) is engaged in
making coal-gas. The others are
making water-gas under various pro-
cesses, such as the Wilkinson. the
Lowe. Martin, and Flandry. There
is but little difference in any OF the pro-
cesses, except the Wilkinson, which is,
in our opinion, the best, yet by far the
most costly, both in its construction and
management therefore We cannot adopt
it and keep within the limit Of our APP
propriatloD.
We we're informed by our Superin
tendent that water-gas cannot be gene
rated in our works unless there are seve-
raj important alterations made in our
purifiers, as the seal of the present ones
is too shallow TO resist the pressure
created in the manufacture of water-gas.
After having carefully considered the
whole subject and gotten the views of
some Of the best gas engineers IN the
several cities we visited, We have arrived
at the conclusion that unless the city is
in condition to spend very large sum
OF money on her gasworks we are COM
PEELED, 10 justice 10 ourselves, to recon-
mend the construction Of a water-gas
plant of daily capacity Of $4,000 Gu
bic feet, the purchase Of n new station
meter Of 1000, coo capacity, and that the
seals of the purifiers be increased to
twenty-four inches. Unless these i'm
provements were made it wonld be use
less to attempt the manufacture OF
water gas in our works
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM S. GUM,
WILLIAM G. ADAMS.
Mr.. Grimes conceded that the report
was correct, but declined TO sign it be-
cause he was opposed to the water-gas
system.
TIE MATTER DISCUSSED.
Mr. Hargrove moved to receive the
report and adopt the recommendation OF
the committee.
Mr.. Obey opposed the motion. He
did not think that water-gas could be
made cheaper than coal-gas. The fiuc-
tuation in the prices of OH WAS 20 grN2t
that the city could not fix upon anS
price at which it could be secured.
Z Messrs. Hargrove aud Gum were not
welded to any particular plan, and were
disposed to be guided entirely by the
views Of the Superintendent.
The superintendent rather preferred
making coal-gas. but owing tothe limit
ed holder capacity and the necessity OF
Immediately increasing the generating
capacity of the works he thought the
use Of water-gas as an auxiliary TO coal
gas was by far the best plan. 1t could
be made cheaper aud OF a higher illum-
mating power, and would be the means
of reducing the price OF gas to con-
sumers.
Dir. Bodeker favored the water gas
plan.
NO wkIER-GAs.
Mr.. Otley moved as a substitute for
Mr.. Hargrove's motion that coai-gas in
stead OF water eas be used in increasing
the capacity OF the works, and that the
Superintendent and chairman be in
structed to advertise for proposals for
erecting new benches and abuilding, to
be reported to the committee.
Mr.. Otley's motion was adopted by the
following vote:
AYES. -Messrs. Davis, Ferriter, Grimes,
and Otley--4.
NoEs.-Messrs. Gum, Hargrove, and
Bodeker-3.
THE DIFFERENCE.
The s25, 900 appropriated by the City
Council would have been sufficient to
erect 10000 cubic feet water-gas
plant, while it will only increaset the coal
gas capacity 100000 cubic feet.
After transacting some other business
OF minor importance the committee ad-
,nurpad