Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-02-14
ton Of house pipe and burners of copsnu.
Respectfully. W

| respectfully,
| 3. NJ. LATHAM
Inc Two boards convened in Joint sa...-
and the following report was read:
Alexandria Va, Feb. 49, 1900
To the Honorable City Council;
Gentlemen Having offered to mako o.
animation of the City Gas Works and ta au t1'
cd my services for that purpose. free ~ 1se''
cost to the city, j, In compliance with 'uy
luton sdOpted by the City Council r. ; 80
| convention February 8, 1900. reone.,i,J .os
to make said examination, have the ROW. We
submit the following report: O'
The bui dings for the storage of coal anal,
substantial character, and the coal n an
at the time Of my examination And ios "a
disIliistion was apparently Of good qua ily
The retort and Purifying house i, with m.
exception In fair concitlon and can At mi
expense when the benches of five. ara !.
newed, be put In condition to lss. many year.
The PIPE, m t r and I've building /, ~
isir condltioI an can De m':e better by The
expenditure Of = few d,ls.. "e
The engine room attached to ret,,t hon.
should be enlarged, built entirely Of b,i,s
| ana photometer placed therein for the be,,a1
observation of candle power OF "a. ~
drsuic main over benches of fives l,v.li:s
ana supported so as to remain level and nr,
serve uniform sea-. PIT
Lids on all retOrts should be seltsesl.,.
they save gas time aud annoyance. t,o'1
now in use being many years out Of cs.r
Valves should be placed On stand pipss An
up-to.date gas works have thess waves a.
Also the improved self-sesIing lids.
A scrubber, for the better cleansing n n.
gas and greater production Of smmoniscT
liquor, should be added to the work, and ~
liquor sold, thereby producing a revenue ;,
the city.
The station meter has been in use MANI
years and needs overhauling.
The two gas holders are comparatively ms,
and should, with proper care, last many ye.,,
They, am informed, cost the city Sl4 COO
and TO duplicate them now would 8, cam
sidersbly over $4,000.
In the retort house are seven benches co,
tanning thlrty-seven retorts; the two s,gs
benches Of six ret0rts each are new and b.vs
not a. yet been used. One Of the RENAME
five benches has only been in use about two
months; the remaining four benches we,e
built about year sgo. They ali so GEAR %
DO in good condition snd only need the i'm.
prOvements suggested above to produce be-.
ter results.
The purifying capacity is ample, and with
the addition Of scrubber and change Of pali.
tying material good gas can be furnished
The initial pressure Is excessive and the
remedy can BIO found in removing all defect,
i've piping in mains, services aud meier,
which work can be grsduslly ard effect " "
done by noting ell complaints and st,endii ?
to them promptly, thereby reducing the rre'.
sure and leakage which is twice O. great a.,
should be.
There should be q pressure register ind
eating and registering the pressure at al times
both day and night.
Consumers meters should be tested every
few years and kept in good condition, snds
meter proven should be provided for this Dar.
pOse-it is necessary for the above work
Mains not less than four inches service
pipe one inch should be used-the batter Of
oIack iron tested by steam and at the sane
time coated with tar.
improved tapping tools and machines
should be provided, they save the loss Of "a,
when tapping mains.
There are about eight or nine tons Of carbon
at the works, the greater portion Of whi,hs
the result of overchsrging the retoIti and III
perfect distilation of the coal, which pesuss
low yield and candle power-the igbt.gyng
properties having solidied into CARTON, the
accumulation and removal OF which sbOIlens
the life fsnd often destroys the rtt)rt.
The results, per man, DO Dot Justify the
employment of the present force.
From general reports / was led to bel eve
the gas works We're OF little value, but on my
examination found all the buildings with
one exception substantial and in fair cOnd.
ton.
The gas holders, coal sheds, ratorts en-.
CINE, purifyers, pipe and valve room, and
coke and lime sheds are in good condition.
and with the improvements have suggestd
added thereto the works would b. Ill tas.
could b desired at present.
see no reason for the appropriation by
the City Council or the issuing of bonds by
the city to raise money to improve the Alex.
andria gas plant. All needed improvement
1T the works and also the renewal of pipe
in toe city can be made gradually, and, 81
sure. can be paid for out OF the revenue de-
rived from the gas office IN few years-En-
vided competent and experienced man Is
placed in charge Of the gas works as superiu-
t ndent. Respectful ly submitted,
ANDREW J. BYRSE
The joint session then ssolvei.
Upon motion the report of Mr.. Andrew j.
Byrne on the condition of the city gas WORKS
was ref, rred to the Committee on Light witt
to report at the neSt reguS
meeting OF the City Council
The board then adjourned.
HUBERT SNOWDEN, President pre- sen
Teste: ID. Z. STANSBURY. Clerk
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