The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-30
Observation-Disclosures
a.. Gives some Interesting Fact, concern
ing the Gas Works.

H.. Gives some Intrre-ting acie '""'''"
ing the Gas Works.
sunerluterdent ". +. Knowles OF the
cas- Works. when asked Yesterday
whether he lad heard any thins con-
TN, q, MINOR started by unknown par
,fes that me works were 10 be lease"' It.
plied m the negative. ,t,,, those
-lf ia. city intended itdSi'7 ',.i.l
,.,rLa tne wise thing TO nave uoN' VIM
w ..i ~ b.'..r IN have leased them last year
before the city improved lts PAM ',
,id III is utterly Impossible lot a"y
private company 10 uecIe"se 'uo -.
fxueuse account save III Inc ianoi -
EVeryttinA bought 10y N ,g,' lo,ccsf bid
bougnt by contract from the io"vSt n'"
der. and the city Is getting 'H' i7", 49,.
prire for IT'S refuse OF any clls save "'''
IN the whole country. ., .,... ,t,o
Continuing. Mr.. Knowles s"lu ll.1 wy
gas WAS now costing the city - GEMS PCT
fbousaud feet put in the burner mus
leaving "A clear prodt of y cents per tnou-
san 3. - .tfh
fh. civ could reduce the price OF btS
with the existing labor account. tN-
planned the Superintendent. ne STORAGE
rapacity Of the works ~ oulN u~,us' chhic
feet. and during the present WINTER the
consumption has reached a. hlsh as "p'-
$50 cubic feet during t"entt-loui hours
For about nine months Of the year Sds
can be manufactured at "a greatly reduced
rate over the three winter months. IN
the winter the gas manufactured Is Two
Thirds water and one-third coal IN the
summer months the coal Is OF mnch
smaller proportion. \ greater storage ca
pacity would be "A great saving.
The SuperinteT dent l. ConileHt that Il
private company could reduce the .Npeh'o
of the Gas Works very greatly through
the labor account. The city, however, can
make the same saving If IL chooses 10 pro-
coed on that line. There IL no doubt
he e. piaired, that the city - now pay
ing men 81 ~ per day whose places cOu.d
he filed for IS 10 80 cents per day. 10 is
onlv question Of what the city thinks
of the plan OF changing from lis present
system az employing the labor OF It's de-
III a piivgta corporation should lease
these works they would make whatever
profit they secured from the difference II
would pay it, labor. knowing this the
city WOulC not In prove It's standing win
the labor OF the city or show good bust
ness judgment i'm turning the Gas Works
over 10 a private concern.
'Ihe Council need not wait for foreign
capital If IL wishes 10 lease the works.
There woulC be no difficulty I'm finding
home capital 10 invest In the enterprise.
But" said Mr. Knowles. THE idea does
not present itself to me as good one, 10
lease these works out just after the city
has leen put To great expense IN max
ing repairs. and when il * only recovering
from heavy dcfalcatiOn. These works
Will give a much better account OF thcm-
selves during 1897 than has been possible
during 1896 Every city that has either
sold or leased its gas plant has suffered
very heavily from their experience with
private companies. II would make no dif-
ference what the restrictions. f the city
leascs The plant II will be returned 10
the city greatly crippled. rs these private
enterprises get all that Is possible for
their money and never lock out after
needed repairs
Mr.. Knowles said he did not know what
parties or of any one who had made APP
plication foi the lease of the works. but
he had no doubt that there were manv
parties who would be glad TO make deal
Of this kind with the city.