The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-17
THE WATER GAS PLANT.
fEE QUESTION or REPAIRING 1T
10 M Considered.
NJ. walicrstein HAS a Poor Opinion of This
iIoPe,tS --Superintendent Knowles
Report of the Accident.

Inc iINfiIai uNhlNtNS htiuIt inc 1oW-
mittco on Light last evening grew out
VI tho accident az the Lower Gas Works
on sunday morning. Mr.. Walerstcin at
tackled the Water Gas Plant and declared
IL was "a iourth-ciass one and on his mo-
tion subcommittee was requested TO
Report on the feasibility OF repairing it.
The Southern Electric Company's appli-
cation Tor franchise went over until
smother meeting to await certain changes.
The members present were: Mcssrs:
Wallorstcin. chairman O. a. Hawkins
T.. a. Noble. Tanner and Vaughan.
Mr. Phil -. Shields was present as the
representative of the southern Electric
Company. which has am application TOT
franchise for furnishing electric nights
pending before the committee
ACTION POSTPONED.
Mr. Noble moved 90 return the ordi-
nance TO the city Attorney with instruc-
lions 10 SO amend 30 as TO make 10 con-
form 20 other franchises for electric hsht
an power which now exist. ana mat
after the return of the amended ordnance
81 viii bee further considered by the COM
mittor
Committee complaining OF the settled con-
dit.on of paving over the gas main ON
West Broad street and asking that the
street he put 300 proper condition. The
letter was returned for more specific in
formation as Co several points.
a communication was received from the
Committee on Grounds and Buildings
asking THAT the superintendent be in
struelci ~ make test of gas saving
machine The committee instructed the
Inspector of Gas 90 make the test.
a Communication was received from ciu
Gems oi the Wost-End complaining of be-
mg unable Co secure power and light from
thc Richmond Railway and Electric
Company a letter in reply to the com
piaut was also received from am officer
of thc company Boo question stating that
they would lose money if required 10 cN-
tend the line t0 the locality named
The matter was referred TO the City
Attorney 10 know what powers the city
bad .n the premises.
Tho contract for placing a new roof on
one of the buildings at the gas works was
awarded to NJ. Klein d Sons. at 1896.
Other bidders were -. +. Cofcr. w. w.
Haley, John Bowers and West d Branch.
FUEL GAS.
A resolution instuCtlnc tho Committee
ON Light Co ascertain ana report ON the
feasibility 0f selling fuel gas and another
insiructtug the same committee TO con-
slider and report ou tho feasibility of re
ducIng the price OF gas 90 go cents per
1000 feet 20 Doe effective January LIST.
were referred 10 the superintendent of
The gas works for report
The resolution from the Council autho-
rzinr the Ll6t Committee TO advertise
for bids for Lighting The city at the expi-
ration of the present contract was laid
ou the table 90 await the action Of the
Committee on Light in regard 10 the
Southern Electric Company application
for franchise
THE GAS WORKS ACCIDENT.
A communication was received from
Superintendent vs.. l.. Knowles giving
information of the accident at the Lower
Gas Works Sunday morning.
The accident is described as follows:
"Thc valve ON bypass 90 the oil-heater
boo thc engine room burstod while blast
iue generators and the OH caught fire
and damaged engines. one fan. betting
etc.. to Che extent of about $500"
The accident necessitated the lighting
0f Sis additional coal-heuches and the
employment of twelve extra men.
Mr knowles reported that he had taken
down tle damaged machinery and sent IL
io the shop for repairs. The accident. ne
said was purely au unavoidable accident
aud One that might occur 40 any time IN
similar works.
1u response to- questions by Mr. Noble
Superintendent Knowles said the fore
man was not ON duty at the time the
accident occurred. He had just gone 10
church. The foreman was not required
to Doe on duty through the entire day on
Sunday.
The fro-alarm was delayed by reason
of the person turning iu the alarm haV-
ing broken the glass front Of the box. and
"a piece of the glass getting i'm the ma
chinery.
Mr. Wauers'cn opposed any oxpedi-
turc ON The water gas plant, which he
characterized ass 20 fourth-class one. lie
moved that the sub-Committe on the
Manufactures of the Light Committee be
Instructed TO investigate the accident and
report as TO whether they deem 10 adj
visable 10 repair the water gas plant.
MIR. KNOWLES POSITION.
Superintendent knowles said that this
would place him in "a very embarrassing
position as DE had acted for what ne
deemed 20 be the best interests OF the
city.
Mr. Vaughan spoke along the same
nue as Mr Wauerstoin
Afr. Tanner sustained the Superinten-
dents action. and said had he been in
trc SEINE position he would have done
likewise.
Before the motion was put Superin-
tondcnt Knowles said ho wished 10 know
= the motion OF AIR. Walerstein pre-
vailed. whether hc should stop the work
OF repairing the machinery. He had .nro-
cocdod under the ordinance which re-
.ttfrlu him fD ll4u the machinery in
order
Mr. Tanner asked ~ the supply Of gas
would last several days 81 the repair
work was not completed. MT Knowles
said Doe would try 90 make 10 last
Alr Wallerstoin's motion was adopted.
as was one offered by Mr.. Tanner sus-
talnlns The sunerIniondonts action.