The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-18
CAUSE OF THE
BIG GAS BILLS.
Superintendent Knowles Makes an
Explanation,
SEVERAL REASONS ASSIGNED.
Reason for the High Prcssure-A Hol-
der Needed in the West End - Re
rsrt on Electrolysis - The
Street Committee.

pointed as a Subcommittee 10 inVeStl-
gate the matter with the city Engineer
and City Attorney.
The subcommittee will confer with
the Water Committee and make arrange
ments 10 act with a subcommittee ap-
pointed 10y that body a part of the
duty of the joint subcommittee will Dee
the assessment Of damages caused by the
inroads Of electroiysis.
BIG GAS BILLS.
Superintendent Knowles submitted
report i'm answer 10 the complaints made
recently OF largely increased gas bills.
Mr.. Knowles makes the following state
ments:
lst I'm many instances the increase in
gas bills is due TO the increase m facil-
tiles for consuming gas in both heating
and lighting, and in others 10 a largely
increased demand for lights with the
same lighting facilities.
2nd. Wherever the same number Of
lights have been used and turned out the
same hour every night the increase was
due entirely 10 the unprecedented bad
weather we have experienced this win
ter. the dark days causing the consumer
TO light up much earlier in the evening
and also 10 burn later IN the morning.
According TO the weather reports there
were Nil4t flN-NNll flfAi NlA. AlA NtllNInA 81
in February there We're only thirteen
clear days.
In support Of this contention the SUI
perintendent states that bee has taken
the churches, which are not affected by
the weather and examination shows
that the consumption is no larger than
IL usually is. As the churches are not
affected by the weather, Mr. knowles
thinks this argument Dis conclusive
In answer TO many complaints Mr..
Knowles states that he has re-exam-
ined hundreds Of meters. and tested them.
satisfying himself that there is nothing
wrong with them.
Many Of our consumers says Mr.
Knowles. "have an idea that we are
forcing the gas. accompanied by a great
deal of air. to high points under q heavy
pressure. There might be- some reason
FOR forcing gas 10 points lower than the
Gas Works but You know We would like 10
check the pressure 10 high points" The
superintendent then explains how the
pressure of gas is regulated. and adds
can examination of the pressure charts
at the Upper Works Will prove that there
has been no increase OF pressure this
winter"
THE HIGH PRESSURE
lAfAF - AlgWfNfAf HBhW AFNNNls ANi hliN
complaint of high pressure. and the SUI
perintendent explains It IN a few words.
1.-THE natural increase OF pressure Of gas
is one-tenth Of an inch for every Ten feet
of elevation. The eyelation OF the upper
Gas Works whore the pressure is regu-
lated Is twenty feet. Therefore Ne start
the gas az a pressure OF two inches az a
twenty foot elevation. The elevation az
L0mbardy and Main Is 1893 feer. and az
Walnut street PIP L. feet.
The only remedy for this Is the cou-
struction o. q large storage holder en- the
West End VI the city. from which the
pressure ln the upper part Of the city
can bee properly regulated
n has been argued. says Mr.. KNOWLES.
that the receipts have increased too rap-
idly. bur 10 was urged as a business meas
ure for reducing the price or gas, that
it would induce people q use more for
lighting that Manufacturers would use
lt for heating that IL would be used in
stoves and heaters generally and in a
short time the receipts would be- more
than before the reduction.
This prediction has never been fulfilled.
and the increase has been gradual. that
for lsgS being less than Tor any year since
reduction of the price Of gas in lssZ
Ia conclusion Mr. Knowles directs at-
tention 90 the fact that complaints about
increased gas bills has not been confined
10 Richmond. and he quotes New YORK
as a case I'm point.
The report was referred TO the Council
After the transaction OF routine bust
ness the committee adjourned.
WORK on the streets.
The street Committee at ~ session lasl
evening put In much good. solid work
looking 10 the Improvements Of tine
streets AT the request Of committee
from those engaged in team1ng' tnes
recommended 10 the Council the appro.
prlation OF $1,000 for the betterment Of
certain thorOughfares, the expectation
being that the work Will De provided ioi
ina the budget FOR 1900.
sub-chairman ). l.. Bl0omberg called
the committee TO order shortly after
o'clock. there being present Messrs. Pol
lock. Whittet, Gibson. Woody, Burton,
King. Bahen. Peters. and Ebel.
IMPORTANT WORK.
The hearing OF allegations for street
Improvement were hrst taken up. there
being many interested parties present
and some important work was recon-
mended 10 the Council some of IT being
the paving with granolithic Of Broad
street between First and Second. pay
ing with brick Of the east side Of Morris
street from Floyd 10 Grove avenue. south
side u West avenue far 80 feet west Of
BOYD street. paving the west side OF
Morris street between Floyd and Grove
avenue. paving the south side Of Main
from Morris 10 Lombardy paving with
granolithic of the sidewalk on the north
side OF Main from Tenth TO Eleventh,
and paving on the south side Of Main
from Ninth to Tenth.
Mr. John Tyler representing the Rich
mond Transfer Protective Association APP
reared before the committee and asked
that I'm the teaming interests of the city
the following thoroughfares be repaired
as soon as possible:
cary street from Ninth 20 Fifteenth.
Fifteenth street from Cary 20 Franklin,
Franklin from Fifteenth 10 Seventh.
Main from Franklin 10 Chesapeake and
Ohio tracks. Dock from Seventeenth 20
Eighteenth and from Twenty-second 20
Ash. Seventeenth from Cary 70 Broad.
Twelfth from Main 10 Canal, Thirteenth
from Canal 20 Shockoe Lane. and Canal
from Eleventh to Twelfth.
ESTIMATED COST
Tha CITY Engineer estimated that this
work would cost S35.20i. including S22 i0J
Ia nave Dock street with heavy Belgian
blocks col Cutshaw gave the improve
nients his hearty approval.
Mr. King moved that the matter be
recommended 10 the Council with the
idea that the prominence thus given 1t
IA .