Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-20

Paul, Minneapolis. ST. Louis. Lincoln,
Omaha. Manchester. Jersey City, Trenton,
Newark, New York city, Brook-
lyu. DAYTON. Pittsburg, Harrisburg.
Providence. Pawtucket, Memphis, Bur-
lington, Norfolk, Charlestown,. 1oungs-
town, and, last but not least, Philadelphia,
the latter works being, like your own
plant, owned and operated by the city. It
is we'll known that whenever the water-gas
question has been brought before the citl-
2ens of Philadelphia to be more
particular tho politicians of that city
for effort to introduce improved methods,
the overtures were met with reoun until
the changes in tho personnel of the city
government resulted in the building OF
water-gas plant of the capacity OF 6'OO1VOO
cubic feet per day by private capital, which
the cltv in It's contract with these lndl-
yiduals was given the right to purchase
provided the product and cost proved
satisfactory to the community.
APPROPRIATE TO RICHMOND.
II have before me the annual message Of
MAYOR Stuart. OF Philadelphia. to which IS
appended the several annual reports OF
chiefs and superintendents of the several
public departments of said city. On page
IL of the mayors message l find the follow
ing sentence. which, from my knowledge
of the situation in Richmond. deem par
tlcularly appropriate:
lone Of the most important problems
which confronts us now is the question of
increasing as well "a improving our sup
ply OF gas. We have q contract with prl-
yate corporation for which you have APP
prOpriated 100000 for the purchase OF gas
manufactured IN the plant located at the
clty's Twenty-ffth- Ward works. 1t Is OF
the utmost importance that we should at
once make arrangements to purchase this
plant
QUICKLY INCREASED ITS ABILITY.
Turning to the annexed reports of the
several chiefs and superintendents of the
public departments, on page %, the chief
OF the Bureau of Gas, Mr.. w. h. Park,
who among his fellows IS recognized as an
efficient and thoroughly-competent gas
enGineer-altbough for many years welded
to the old coai-gas methods-states;
"The gas manufactured for the year.
was 1891, $4,000 cubic feet, OF which
2.O92,3 600 cubic feet are TO be credited
TO the coal.gas plant and !. 2g9, $40. 600 cubic
feet TO the water-gss plant at the Twenty
fifth Ward-Works. The wisdom
OF a grant by the city authorities was seen
during the dark DAYS of winter, when this
company. within a few hours, responded
to demands for more gas whereas 1t would
have required DAYS for stacks of the coal
plant to do the same. This ability of the
enabled US TO get along during the fall and
winter months without the Twentv-first-
Ward Works, which has always been
source of expense when in operation with
ont corresponding profit. The total guam
THY of gas made since the erection of the
works has been "a, 2S9, 57l. 900 cubic feet
WOULD FIND OTHER EMPLOYMENT.
II apprehend that one Of the salient res-
sons for the enterprisIng city OF Richmond
persistently keeping itself so long away
from the ranks of progress IN respect to us
cas- supply Is attributable largely to the
dominating influence of politics TO the fact
that the introduction Of modern methods
of manufacture would lay of q dozen OF
SO of the employees who have fattened at
the public crib. True, a water-gas plant
can be operated with fewer men than a
coaI-gas works Of equal proportions, but IN
this connection 1t must not be lost slght
OF that, owing to the increased
Illuminating value Of water-gas. large In
crease of consumption through old patrons
and the addition of large numbers Of
those who nave not used gas always fol-
lows. and the few laborers who would lose
their Jobs in the coal-bins and coke-sheds
OF a coal-gas plant would fad occupation
in digging trenches for extension OF mains
and running of new services-a depart
ment of gas-works that the manager is
alwsys disposed to be very liberal IN his
expenditures TO accomplish.
THE CANDLE POWER OF GAS.
"a few-a very few indeed old coal-gas
engineers will inform you that they are
making q 20-candle gas lin this day
OF enlightenment larger number will
briefly touch on their 18-candle
Uo over cosl-aas); but the average man
identified with a coal-gas plant will con-
gratulate himself if his consumers make
no complaint about the lG-candle gas he is
supplying. In the absence OF actual
lnowledge on the subject should say the
Richmond works turned out an average
candle-power of say IS. By the adj
dition of water-gas plant this
illuminating value could De readily
increased TO 24-candle power. thus giving
tire consumers Of gas in your city the bene-
| ft of Is per cent. more light at marked
diminution in the cost Of manufacture
surely a consideration TO be sought for.
| not unlike the killing of two birds with
| one stone" The candle power OF water
gas may be varied at the will Of the manu-
! facturer. The candle power of coal-gas
| is practically fixed at about ~. Water
| gas may DO made of any candle power up
| TO 10. or even more. IT necessary. IL Is
| candle power, being dependent upon the
amount of oil used in the manufacture.
URGES THE AUXILIARY PLANT.
"What Richmond needs now IS TO pro-
vide for the constantly increasing demand
made upon her lighting works, and from
nv general knowledge of the situation
can unhestatingly say unless she makes
| some equitable provision soon the plant
| itself will become so antiquated that ere
| long the neglected stitch in time will
take more than the proverbial nine The
] of,a mas nj 10 20 fptrnHnQQ q
water-gas plant of sufficient dimensions 70
meet the present needs, and to provide for
! the immediate future growth of the city,
accomplish this by introducing as sn aux
iliary a water-gas plant. acquaint your
selves with the value Of what ycu have
| done. and ultimately. il the future sus-
| taips the experience of the past. erect a
model water-gas plant that will furnish all
the light and heating gas that the future
enterprise and growth of your city will
surely demand.
| panies. If they introduced water-gas, that
! their loss of business TO the ineaudescent
electric companies has ceased almost al
once, and large part of that which. the
electric companies had taken from them
| gradually returned to them. This IL due
TO tho increased brilliancy Of water-gas.
COMBINATION OF THE GASES.
"whers there Is a combination Of coal.
| and water gas the make OF coal-gas can bt
kept lust sufficient to supply the make Of
| coke necessary for water-gas manufacture
unless there Is profitable demand foI
coke. when the amount of coal-gas caa b
Increased. the candle power of the water
gas beng raised pfoportionsteiy that thu
candle power Of the mixture may renair
constant.