Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-29
THE CITY GAS-W0RKS
Further Investigations SHOW a BAD
State Of Affairs There.
BALANCES o> THE BOOKS FORCED.
The srrcinI Committee Met Last
Nigh; n-.d Heard Reports from city
Attorney Meredith. superintendent
Knowles, ana Accountant smith.

Gas-Works met last evening al O'Clock
in the Office OF Superintendent Know.es
on the ground floor OF the City Han. The
following members were present Messrs.
Gunst chairman. Allen. Cottrell. Snead,
and Woody. City-Attorney Meredith and
Superintendent Knowles. Of the gas
works. were on hand. as were Colonel
William l.. Smith. the expert account
ant. and Mr.. j. G. Winston. the steno-
grapher.
The report Of the subcommittee con-
sistlng OF the City Attorney and Su-
perintendent Knowles, was called for.
Mr.. Meredith stated that the sub-com-
mittee had not prepared any report IN
writing, but that they nad made an
investigation OF The affairs OF the de-
partment in order TO secure evidence so
that they could mark ont a line OF opera
tion for the fun committee. They had
spent an entire day at the Lower gas
works Tor ahat purpose. and Investigated
one branch OF the gas-works thoroughly.
They went all over the works, and founu
them in very dilapidated condition. Al
his request Mr.. Knowles had prepared
written report as 10 the condition III
which he found the wOrKs wnen ne took
charge of Them, and this report, Mr.
Meredith said. would be presented TO the
committee.
ADVISES a FULL INNESTlGATION
Mr. Meredith added that in his opinion
very full Investigation was tustifeJ
as TO The use Of coke by outsiders which
had been carried on for some time, and
which showed certainly some gross negu-
gence on the part Of Mr.. Walsh. lie sug-
Fcsted that the committee hear num-
Der OF witnesses who had never been
summoned before. He said the matter OF
The selling of lime had not yet been tho
roughly investigated by him. bat ne
suggested that the committee" better
make the invest cation at the eas-works
Mr. Meredith desired u know II Il re-
port should TEE made on violations OF
city ordinances, and Mr. Allen replied tor
the commir,ee in the affirmative
SIPT. kNOWLEs'S STATEMENT.
Superintendent Knowles then submitted
the following report 10 the committee:
When 1 took charge OF the gas-works.
on June |. 1895. found the works in a
dcpiorlble condition.
!. Al the fences Totted down and the
works open to all intIuders
>. No windows in sheds next 10 the
street; hrebrick and other material ex-
pcsei. SO that any one could help them
selves.
.. The roofs on The coal-sheds were en-
t.rely oecayed. The shoeting rafters. and
sils had worn out. SO as 10 necossitate
replacing them by new ones.
Naive-rOom. coFnices. steps. and
porch had rGtted and given away.
). Coal-benches in retoTt-housv alloWeT
t. b. worked for months without being
p.ptd The carbon HI formed in retorts
50 thick t7at II was with difficulty tnat
the hrcm could charge The retorts or
draw The same. When they were piped
ii took ten days 20 bum Out the carbon.
and af'er this had been done they were
found 10 bad condition. 80 much so th-.
tie benches hgG TO lc let down.
6. Water Plant.--Tcis plaEt was in a
mucn worse coLdiron than tie coal
plant 1t had 10 be Teiincd from the crate
bars - the stacks Now castings and
d,wn-rJu valves were required. Ill he
l. lrh.nery connected with the plant Wa~
in the same bal condition.
/. Purifying House.-Thc purifiers had
been neglected 10 such all extent tnrt
;n,y were coated over with rust ana
laak!rg badly.
: CondcnsHne Room --One SIDE Of ghe
c)ndcnsers had not worked Tor several
months Oh account OF IA brCisen valve
.. The buildings which have slgta :oofs
are in such condition that they VIII
require new sheeting in many places, ana
the slate viii have 10 be taken OFF and
relaid.
TO- one OF the iron columns that sun
por,ed tie main eirdcr 20 the tile-shed
WIS removed la 1889. All these heavy
tmbcrs had been allowed to sway, ana
rotted so that they had to be pulled down
and replaced by new ones.
IL. The city employs a carpenter at
S295 per day, to keep up repairs,
brlcklaysr. at $40 per day. for the SAM
purpose. and a good number of helpers,
20 keep the works In a ilrst-cldss condi-
ton.
MECHANICS As YARD HANDS.
Instead OF these mechanics being en-
ployed at mechanical work. they Were
employed as yard hands, dumping coal
and doing laborers work, and all the
buildings were allowed to go 10 pieces.
hope 1t will be the pleasure Of your
committee 10 go down 10 the works and
proceed with your investigation.
- IL would be a great Inconvenience t.
require those persons and employees Of
the works who may lie summoned as
witnesses To come up town, as the ma
jority OF them live in the neighbOrhood
OF the gas-WoTks.
Mr.. Knowles next presented state
ment as to the repairs needed which had
been handed to him by Mr.. Wash in
July, anu this showed a marked discre-
pancy from his own report
When questioned by a member OF the
committee. Mr.. Knowles advised that
the sac OF coke be first Investigated,
and that the committee at the same
time might look into the matter OF pay
rolls.
Colonel Smith. the expert accountant,
stated that more of the pay-rolls had
been signed by the men. In same in
stances men were credited with thlrty-one
days work per month in the coke depart
ment, which was always closed on Sun
days.
When questioned by Mr.. Saesd, Super
intendent Knowles stated that Il great
deal OF junk was disposed OF at the gas
works. but no account Of II was kept.
The receipts were only entered for coke
and other articles"
Superintendent Knowles stated that
never a ten Of Goa, or coke had been
weighed al the gas-works, and that there
really were no scales on hand.
on motion Of Mr.. Allen 1t vas decided
that the next meeting be held at the
Lower gss-works this afternoon at
o'clock.
BALANCES FORCED.
Colonel Smith was asked as 10 the
result of his investigation up TO the pre-
sent time. lie stated that he found
sasx<>..sz--as~H-~ .~uuu.>~aas~A.
~~~~r~NN%e.
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