The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-19
WHAT THE TROUBLE WITH THE
GAS Is

The water gas business is very bad'
but IL might be worse, so that instead or
sitting down and shedding tears over
what has happened and can't be undone,
the thing to do Is TO look the situation
squarely in the face, and remedy our
evils as promptly and as economically as
we can. We have taken pains to inform
ourselves as to what the cause Of the
trouble is. and how it can be remedied.
as We believe and we propose to lay the
matter plainly before the people this
morning, as we understand it.
In the first place. we are glad. TO say
that our most excellent Superintendent
of the Gas Works is not responsible for
th&&efects in our plant. We believe
him tS-he- a thoroughly honest and sim
cere man. and entirely capable of per-
forming his duties as Superintendent ef-
fciently and satisfactorily. The city is
fortunate in having him as superintendent
of the Gas Works.
il would be of no avail TO waste time
in fixing the responsibility for the actual
condition that exists. The trouble about
the matter is this: We built water
gas plant two years ago that was at
that time several years behind the state
that the art or science. as you may choose
TO call it. had reached at the time
We built it. The consequence is we did
not make provision for sufficient heating
space for the water gas to receive the
Vnfusion of the necessary quantity of
~, properly disorganized. Water gas
han no illuminating power. IT is no more
tha& the vehicle that conveys TO the
burn& the Illuminating gases that are
infuseN into and Incorporated into it
from classifying oil. The heating recep-
tacle that our plant has for making this
infusion is not sufficient to dsintegra.e
the oil thoroughly and divide 1t up into
its constituent elements as thoroughly as
with modern appliances. The conse-
quence is that when the gas leaves the
generating plant for further treatment be-
fore going to the burners, large part
of the oil constituents of the gas is con-
densed. and this condensed part is left
behind and the gas gets to the burner
with too much water gas that will not
illuminate. and with too little oil-what
Eliminates. The colder the weather.
therefore. the poorer our gas must always
be- though even i'm summer weather the
best results cannot be obtained.
We can remedy this at no very great
expense. We need to erect by the side
of our present plant great part Of
another which will give us two supplies
of gas instead of one. in case one breaks
down. The one to be erected will have
"a sufficient heating surface for the inter-
mixture OF the oil with the water gas.
and we shall then have an abundance of
the best gas at a minimum rate of
charge. The gas expert ana engineer.
Mr.. Glasgow. will be in this city day or
Light 10 meet at once and ask him
to come before it to explain
this matter and TO make a proposal
for remedying the trouble. We have
talked with him, aud find him to be per-
fectly master of the whole subject. He
may be willing TO make the committee a
proposition TO remedy our trouble eff
fectuaity. with sufficient guarantees of his
work. and for an entirely reasonable
sum. We hope the committee will act
promptly. If he Is not consulted. then
consult some other specialist.
We are glad 10 find that the criticisms
that are TO be made of our Gas Works
apply to but small, though very es-
sentiai. portion of them. The works are
exceedingly valuable, and can be made all !
that we want for comparatively small |
outlay. and such changes as are to be |
made. we are glad to say, are in con-
formity with the views and suggestions |
that our Superintendent has for a long
time held and made.