The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-03

..o,s,,1a Tor iss purchase that OF the
plants erected since the art OF carp.-
retted vater-gas manufacture nad reae"-
ed its present development, the hch,
mond plan. Was the worst conceissu
ana worst executed that had come under
nv notice. and at the time OF lis m
stallation represented dlsunctiy 'efo
grade movement.
At the conclusion of my remarks the
gas-works' superintendent congratulated
me and expressed so earnest desire
TO improve the condition of his works
that when his card subsequently appear
ed In the several daily papers, challeng-
ing my impartialty. mlsconsuuins some
OF my remarks. and advising the employ
ment of n disinterested expert, resarueu
Il as a probably harmless attempt 10
play to the galleries. and allowed IL 10
pass.
This war the condition of the question
when | left Richmond for Europe, but
in view OF the public interest taken IN
the matter l fully expected the builders
OF the plant to make some local demon
stration through their advertised New
York agent. Captain William henry
White, a gentleman admirably ntted ior
the task. .o.
that the "dIsinterested expert" advocated
hv the superfntendent. who had success
/ fully managed large gas works, anu was
not interested in the constructor Oh saS
plants" should prove to be TINS SAINT
! CAPTAIN William Henry White, the Ne"
York agent Of the company VINO sup
piled the Richmond water-gas plant
/ The following remarks refer TO the
article. THAT Water-Gas Plant, &C,
reporting Captain Whites inspection Oh
the gas works. The first portion OF TINS
1 report consisting Of excerpts from my
own published writings, requires no cor
rection but where Captain White as
serts that T. like himself, was an unsuc-
cessful competitor for the work when
the plant was established. he Is misin-
formed. This the Superintendent OF the
Gas Works. who is reported to have
been present, very we'll knew.
1 had no interest. pecJniarilv or other
wise, in any tender ever made to the
city OF Richmond; and have ne Ter, to my
knowledge. competed for any work with
the parties who supplied the Richmond
Water Gas Plant and who in the super
intendents card were characterized as
one Of my strongest competitors.
Captain White says that at least two
thirds Of the w3ter-gas plants now in
operation have single superheaters. Ad-
hitting, 10 save time. the accuracy OF
his fraction he fails to state that near
~ all Of these plants were built during
the carly development Of carburettcd
wnfer-gas manufacture, and long before
the installation of the Richmond plant.
while the remaining few are at obscure
works. where first cost OF installation
has been the deCiJing element, regardless
of operating economy.
Captaln White admits, presumably TO
save his own reputation, that when ne
rendered unsuccessfully upon the RICH
moaI apparatus. before he had been ap-
H4U
apparatus. he intended 10 establish
system OF double superheaters.
II nv original remarks before the Gas
Committee need any further Justihcauon
Il is TO be found I'm the remainder OF
CAPTAIN Whites speech According 20 the
Captain. the local defects In the Rich
mond system Of street mains cover more
sins than proverbial charity. small a
trlbutng mains by decreasing the pres
s,re at the burner. Will affect the guam
titv Of gas consumed, and correspond
inglv reduce both the light obtained ana
the amount Of the gas bill; or they may
result in alternately excessive or den-
cient pressure according as the general
consumption is at its minimum or maAl-
mum: but they will not condense the IL
Illuminating constituents out OF properly
made gas. On the contrary the coollnS
or condensng effect az any, OF the
street mains, win, for a given quantity
Of gas increase with the diameter OF
the pipes A simple but important eX-
ample will fully illustrate this point the
Great Consolidated Gas Company, OF New
York. have for years been Obliged 10
reinforce their supply to lower New York
nv mechanically forcing gas through "A
snecial pipe from their Twenty-first-Street
Works. 10 Tie battery whence 1t nows
back through their network Of distribute
ing mains During it's passage through
this comparatively small feeder the loss
Of pressure IS probably ten times the
NAHUM pressure upon any portion OF
the Richmond mains, In spite or whch
the gas suffers no appreclable loss IN us
high Luminosity.
| captain White finds that the Richmond
] street mains form an immense UNDER
ground condenser and refrigerator there
bv iniuring the Illuminating power OF
the gas TO q great extent and recon-
nends doing something with the mains,
instead OF admitting that under such
conditions the gas entering the mains
must be condensible, and not hxed ana
permanent, as 1T IL the gas engineer
business 10 make IL. Fortunately the
warmer weather will improve things.
In conclusion, | admit Captain White 8
charge OF unprOfessional conduct in that
I rendered my services TO the Gas Com
mittee without remuneration. As sell
dom commit this breach OF etiquette,
trust my professional brethren VIII over
look the offence.
Yours respectfully.
ARTHUR GLASGOW.