Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-11
FOR FUEL GAS-PLNNT
THIS QUESTION BEFORE THE
WILLING TO ESTABLISH A PLANT.
Mr. Payne and Associates Oner to
Install "a 100000 One ana Furnish
Heat for Cooking and Power at
Thirty-Five Cents.

Directors of the Richmond Chamber OF
Commerce was held yesterday evening at
o'clock. There were present Mr.. S. III.
Cabeil. NJ. A. Chambers, r. S. Christian.
J. c. Freeman, Jacob Cans, d. >. Nc
Carthy, w. o. SHELTON, r. l.. Traylor
and G. ID. Wingfeld. directors.
Under the head of reports of standing
committees, Mr.. II. l.. Cabell. chairman
of the Committee on Business Enterprises.
submitted the following communication
from Mr.. William j. Payne in reference
to the establishment of a fuel-gas plant
at Richmond:
Richmond Va, June 1, 1897.
Mr.. r. A. Dunlop. Secretary the Rich
mond Chamber of Commerce, City:
Dear Sir.-Replying TO your letter Of
the 26th ultimo, containing copy Of the
resolution of your Committee on Business
Enterprises and Manufactures, and as
approved by the Board of Directors. in
which you are requested to ascertain un-
der what conditions we would be willing
to erect a fuel-gas plant here, entirely
independent of any right to manufacture
or sell illuminating gas. l beg TO say
we have given the resolution our most
careful consideration, and answer as fol-
lows:
GAS AT THIRTY-FIVE CENTS.
We will erect a complete fuel-gas plant
here. after the latest and most approved
design. at cost. as indicated in your
etter. OF about four hundred thousand
dollars. and supply fuel-gas to the public
at not more than 50 cents per thousand
cubic feet: said plant TO have daily ca
pacity of three million cubic feet OF fuel
gas and so constructed that we can.
from. time to time, increase the capacity
TO meet whatever demands may be made
upon il for fuel OF power. Before erect
ing such a p.ant, it would be necessary
for the City Council to grant us the right
to lay our mains under and along the
streets to such factories, stores, or resi-
dences as may be supplied. In granting
us this privilege we would agree uhuer
such penalties as might be imposed by
the said Council that no Illuminating gas
would be distributed through said mains
or pipes. and in order that there might
be as little disturbance as possible to
traffic we would agree that all work
along the principal streets should be done
at night. and between the hours OF /.
NJ. and 7 A. NJ If, however. there Is 10
be any contest before your city council
in having these privileges necessary 10
such an industry granted us my asso-
ciates decline TO come down here ana
enter into il. Should our proposition meet
with your approval, we VIII submit our
petition to the City Council, asking ioi
The necessary privileges, and / would, III
| that case. ask the members OF your pody
TO use their influence In having them
granted Us. -
on investigation. we find the coal from
Tho Richmond coal-fields we'll suited to
o,,r nurpose. and this alone would be
of much importance to Richmond III
Ieeninp the large amount of money ex-
nended for our coal entirely at home.
ADVANTAGE or CHEAP POWER.
That fuel gat-plant would be one
| of the greatest factors i'm building up
small manufacturing industries in Rich
mond. no one can deny. 1t is well known
that manufacturing industries are at
tracted to a locality by the advantages
II may offer. and the chief point con-
sidered is cheap power. With fuel-gas
| at % cents per thousand cubic feet, we
can offer power at less than l cent per
| hour per horsepower. with the advan-
| tage of furnishing it in the smallest
| units desired even less than one horse
mower. The general experience with II
| has demonstrated clear saving or ov
per cent. over steam, with the further
advantage that it is always ready. ana
the machinery can be started in mo-
| ment.
For household purposes its advantages
| are many. In our southern climate
where the summers are long and the
| hot days are particularly trying TO those
| of our people who perform their own
household duties. it will be an especial
blessing i'm tightening their labors. IL Is
more economical than coal for cooking
with the attendant labor in hfndllns
entirely obviated. There are no asnes
| to carry out the gas Is always ready
and can be turned on or OF IN mo-
| ment. while with the general use OF luei-
gas i'm a city, the atmosphere Is ileeu
from SCOT and smoke and rendered cieaf
and healthy .-,... 81.
tabIishments that use fuel-gas. l would
esneciallv mention the American TUBE
Works. at Middletown. Pa, where they
erected their own plant. with capacity
of : 600 900 feet per day for welding ana
heating their immense output of wrought
iron tubes and the Henry Diston q
cops Works lust outside of Philadelphia.
In the great manufacturing town OF
Rridqeport Conn. fuel-gas Is not only
ueed nv almost every manufacturing es-
tabIishment IN the city. but II Is In gene
raj use for household purposes, and Is
even used for driving dynamos Tor pro-
ducing electric lights with most econo-
,,ical results. There are many such in
gtapces | will be pleased 10 furnish, II
desired by your Chamber.
Trusting that ! may be favored with a
renlv TO this at an early day, l remain,
yours respectfully,
ISigned WILLIAM J. PAYNE.
The subject OF the communication was
discussed with great interest by mem
hers of the board. and continued in the
hands of the Committee on Business
Enterprises and Manufactures for their
further investigation and report.
NEW MEMBERS CHOSEN.
After the transaction OF some routine
business. the following new members
were proposed and elected: J. y. Cor
man 4. Co. proposed by w. c. Bentley;
William Albert Smith. proposed by Ed
ward G. Mayo: +. NJ. Noble, proposed by
II w. Moore; DR.. J. sills Daniel, pro-
nosed by Committee on Membership
Thomas Adkins & Co.. proposed by John
n RIair. r. r. Gary * Co.. proposed by
Iohn ID. Blair: the Home Brewing Com
INV proposed by c. ID. Wingfield
CHARLES T. Brown. manager Robert Port
ner Brewing Company, proposed by c.
ID. Wingheld.
The meeting then adjourned.