Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-16
ABOUT WATER GAS.
MIR. GLASGOW, A DisTINGulsHED
ENGINEER, DISCUSSES IT'S MERITS
Illuminating Power Much Higher
Our Plant Pretty Dad, ana the
Mains Too smaII-ThOse biE biiis-
street COMMITTEES Meets.

The Committee on Light held a regular
meeting in Room No. IL OF the City Han
last evening, and talked n great deal
about water-gas and Its relative merits
compared to coal-gas. Those present
were Chairman Grimes and Messrs. Da-
via, Vaughan. Hardwicke. Caskic.
Branch. Starke. Noble. and Wallerstein.
Superintendent Adams submitted his re-
portAof the operations OF the department
for the month of January. showing
the quantity OF gas sent out during tho
month to be 5.4jl. 4i2 cubic feet, costing
a cents per 1000 feet. and Is cents for
distribution Gas consumed In January
1884, was 2l.562,I9o feet. Estimate or
funds required for next months payroll,
500.
MIR. GLASGOw's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Arthur Glasgow, formerly OF this
city. but now builder of water-gas
plants in Europe. was In attendance
upon the committee and being requested
to make a statement to the body con-
corning water-gas and the complaints
that had recently been made against the
commodity in Richmond. he did So Mr..
Glasgow said that If Mr.. Adams made
the very best gas In the world and the
gas was not distributed and burned pro-
perly 1t would not be satisfactory. He
declared that even bad burner world
impair the Illuminating quality OF the
gas 80 to - per cent. Speaking Of the
relative character OF coal and water-gas
Mr. Glasgow said that coal-gas could not
be made satisfactorily of a higher CANDLE
power than %. while water-gas could he
made with all safety up to 80 candle
power. He added that water-gas plants
were taking the place OF coal-gas plants
all over this country and the United
Kingdom. Chicago and Baltimore used
water-gas altogether. New York. Phila-
delphia. and other large cities used large
proportions Of water-gas.
WATER-GAs POPULAR.
Mr. Glasgow stated that OF all tn.
watergas plants erected since the art or
building such establishments had reach.
ed its present stage OF efficiency Rich
mond had the worst. He said IL was
badly planned. conceived. and construct
ed. The new purifiers. the speaker con-
tinued. were doing splendid work In
answer to question by Chairman
Grimes. Mr.. Glasgow stated that the
city could operate a separate holder in
the West End very well by having an
individual main running TO II. but he di:
not think this could be satisfactorily done
with the present mains. which were too
small to render an even distribution OF
the gas.
Mr. Glasgow was rendered n vote ~
thanks by the committee for the informa-
ton he had impaired
Mr. Caskie then moved that the paper
from the Board Of Aldermen concerning
the alleged high gas bills be referred to
the Superintendent of the Gas-Works
and the gas inspectors for a written re-
port To the committee al its next meet
ing.
The resolution cancelling deliquent gas
bills up to January |. 1892. was referred
to the City Attorney for his opinion.
WANTS TO STOP THE CONTRACT
Mr. Davis offered a resolution cutting
off the electric-light contract and in.
structing the Superintendent to light the
streets by gas after April T. 1895. The
matter was laid upon the table until the
next meeting.
The usual bills and payroll were APP
proved and some other unimportant bust
ness transacted. and the committee Laid
upon the table until the next meeting
the matter Of the selling of coke gotten
from the gas-house by the negro Il.
Townes.
The committee ON Strects.
a seml-monthly session Of the Com
nittee on Streets was held In Committee
Room No. of the City Hall last night,
ttose in attendance being Messrs. Nc
Dowell (sub-chairman). Ferriter. PaRa,
Mann, Diacont, King, Blanks. and Bloom
| berg.
Allegations were heard concerning the
| grading and paving OF the alley between
TWenty-fouTth and Twenty-fifth and
| Broad and Marshall streets. A majority
OF the property-owners were opposed 10
| the Improvement. and II was rejected.
| though the Board Of Fire Commissioners
were given permission to put some gravel
| in the alley.
On motion Of Mr.. Blanks u was agreed
| to have the alley between Oak and Han
Geek and Catherine and Clay streets
| graded and paved.
The petition for the extension Of the
Clay-street car line out Broad street TO
| the observation-disclosures was, on motion
| OF Mr.. Mann. laid upon the table.
The time OF Mr. l.. X. Goodwin. con-
tractor for street-paving, in which to
| complete his work. was extended from
February 18th TO April LIST.
THE ORDINANCES READY.
The City Engineer stated that the or
| dinances concerning the Street Depart
ment had been gotten into shape and
were ready to be considered. The COM
mittee agreed to take them up at its
next meeting.
A resolution in regard 10 the closing
| of the alley between Plum and Harvie
streets and FLOYD and Grove avenues
was returned to the Council. with the
recc mmendation that il be passed over
| the veto of the Mayor.
To Mr.. John g. Welnbrunn was award
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