The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-04
IS THE NAPTHA
GOOD OR BAD ?
The Committee on Light and Stand
ard Oil Company at Odds.
A COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE,
The oil Company Declines TO Remove
the Naptha from the Gas Works
Tanks-Cause of Bad Gas-The
Electric Committee.

The disputed question as to whether
the naptha furnished the City Gas Works
by the Standard Oil Company is pure or
not has resulted in the appointment Of a
subcommittee from the Committee on
Light to investigate the matter.
Some weeks ago there was complaint
I'm certain quarters that the gas being
furnished the city was bad. The Commit
Tee on Light began to investigate, aud
a meeting was held at the gas works the
result beng. after experiments, that the
conclusion was reached that the naptha
used was responsible for the trouble ana
the Standard OH Company was ordered
10 remove 1t from the storage tanks al
the works.
THE COMPANY REFUSED.
This the company declines 10 do, as
serting that analysis has shown the oil
% be all right and according 10 contract.
The company further asserts that the
cause Of the trouble lies elsewhere.
At present no naptha ia being used. and
not many complaints have been made re-
Gently. IL is said that the works them
selves are in bad condition, and that they
were condemned by an expert six years
ago.
The matter was discussed briefly by the
Light Committee last night, and com
mittee appointed TO report on IL al the
next meeting.
The committee met at 6 O'Clock, chair
man Wallerstein presiding, and present
Messrs. Ferriter SedY, Shea, Hardwicke,
CARRIER Mo<jv. and Minor.
a letter was received from the Standard
Oil Company in relation 10 the letter adj
dressed 10 that company by the COMMIT
tee complaining that the n2ptha iuinisneu
The Gas Works was or inferior quality,
and asking that II be removed.
The letter from the company stated that
sample Of the naptha IN the storage TANKS
OF the Gas Works and m the tanks OF the
company had been analyZed. end that
there was 40 material difference between
them. The cause OF the trouble. the let
ter asserted. was not I'm the n0piha, winch
WIS strictly as required by the contract
, between the Standard Oil Company ana
the city. There were several letters on
the subject read after which chairman
Nallerstein said. These letters are Iedd
for YOUR information. gentlemen. Inc
Superintendent Of the Gas Works has tol-
lowed the instructions Of the committee
and ordered the removal OF the napthA
which the company refused 70 40.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.
Mr. WaIerstein further said that a
rough examination and chemical analy SIS
showed the presence of grease ln the
I'VE are not using any naptha nov,
| ne added 49,. 80
formed by a man who had had forty
wears experience in the of business that
il vyos inpossible for the Standard OH
| COMPANY 10 furnish the oil required ny
the contract AT the price paid. me lnofVu
that a committee acting tn conjuncuoR
| with the chairman and superintendent OF
the Gas Works be appointed TO look mo
| the matter and see whether inc company
was carving ont IT'S contract
| T,be motion was adopted and the Chair
! arnofnted on that committee Messrs. MOS
| ~ Seav. Tanner and CARRIER rms com
| mitteo Is expected 10 report 10 the iuil
| committee at the next meeting.
J After ordering the payment OF phis anu
| payroll the committee ADJOURNED.
The Electrical Committee.
Tho Committee on Ordinances met last
NIGHT and considered an ordinance as
! to the erection. construction ana lnspec-
| tion of wires and appliances used LOT
| electrical purposes. providing Tor the IN
| sDcctiOu and supervision or the same upoi
! streets and within buildings. and prONid-
| ing for the appointment OF an inspector
| on inspectors thereof
Members Of the Council present at the
| meeting were Messrs. Bloomberg (chair-
! mani. Cutchins. Pollock. Winston and
| Gunst President Frischkorn, OF lhe
| Fire Commissioners. and superintendent
| Thompson of the Fire-Alarm Depart
/ mont. were also present
| The ordinance was framed by a sub
committee with the president OF ~
| Board Of Fire Commissioners and app
| proved by the commissioners.
! Mr. Gunst. the patron OF the resolu-
! ti0n that called the ordinance into cX-
| isferCe said that the proposed measure
Il. delegated the powers I'm electrical matter s
| TO the Fire Commissioners. "a result
| which he sought to defeat because no
| thought "a Committee on Electricity Ougnl
TO be formed which would be under no-
| eolute control of the Council The CoAn-
/ eli could not dictate or control the FIRE
! Commissioners.
| Mr.. FrischkOrn explained that The only
| difference between the proposed ordinance
! and the ordinances now I'm existence was
J that under the new measure Superintend-
! emf Thompson has power 20 enter a
| building when electric wires nave heel
| placed 10 inspect the work. He argued
! the question from an economic stand.
! pOint and also from the point OF view OIL
| the necessity Of experience Tor the WoIh
! which necessity would not be. met, Were
| a Council Committee which is iaple %
| change every two years, placed in chaIse
! Of the work Ill.,.
| After considerable discussion or these
| p0ints the ordinance was Unanimously
| approved bv the committee and recon-
mcnded 10 the Council FOR adoption.
First Market.
The Committee on First Market met ~
j. O'Clock yesterday at the store oi