Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-20
NEED FOR GAS HOLDER
PAY INTEREST ON COST FROM THE
FIRST, SAYS SUPERINTENDENT.
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS RESULTS.
what the City Has Expended in and
Profited from the Conduct of It's
Gns-works-Output Double stor-
nsc Capacity.

Replying to a question as to the neces-
sity for the 100000 cubic feet gas storage
holder recommended by him. Superin-
tendent Knowles, Of the City Cas-
Works, said last night that the output
of the City Gas-Works is double the
storage capacity, whereas 1t ought to be
the reverse
A. new holder. he said. would pay In
terest on its cost from the outset by the
saving in fuel. the obviation of loss OF
time in shutting down plant for repairs,
etc.
The holder which he deems it necessary
to replace with new holder cost origi-
nally $4,000, and has capacity OF only
100000 cubic feet. If 1t was possible to
let this holder down for repairs, 1T could
be made practically as goou as new at a
cost about $1,000. But the trouble is that
1t cannot be let down without interrupt
ing operations.
The total estimated cost of the plant
of the gas-works and all the buildings is
about sSleooo. said Mr.. Knowles but it
could be replaced BY goo better teri one win
Speaking Of the operation OF the gas
works by the city during the thirty years.
beginning 1867 and ending 1896, ne said Id they
had paid into the treasury Sl.1l3 Soo.zs over
the amount drawn out for cost of rum
ming the works and producing the. gas
This amount exceeds the total Of the
construction and extension accounts 1or
thirty years by s527, 2ss57 Deducting ,t tie
say 1891 ,3772s, the works, besides paying
back to the city its entire outlay for
grounds, buildings: plant. ETC. IT, >, has 81: a
surplus to it's credit Of s135. 9os3l Ihls
is an average Of s4,5so.21 per a an I'M, Tor
thirty years. This surplus is still further
increased by allowing for the difference
between the value Of the gas furnished
the city and the interest due the city on
the cost of the works, ETC., say s35S, 0742s
al n S4Q2 9S0 "a. after
repaying the city for it's investment.
The actual results are that the city
owns it's gas-works without cost and
is an average of SIG. 4eso1 4-5 per annum
for thirty years. The net revenue up
to 1856, it is claimed. more than REIN,
bursed the city for it's entire outlay. ana
a proper calculation of interest =. would 70
The receipts from gas bills. etc. from ron,
1867 to 1896. inclusive, was S5,272. yt5 o. Inc
expenditures during that time footed up
81, O9S, O51 %. Excess of receipts over eA-
penses, s1.174,S5529.
The public consumption Of gas during
that time was sl,501, 1888 Deductlng
from this the interest due the city on
the cost of the works. sl,1i3, s397o leaves
expenses. making sl532. 929.52 the works
are entitled to credit for Taking from
this the construction and extension ac-
counts of sst7.51 r. leaves net revenue.
it is claimed, of SSS5,35i.So tor the thirty
years named.
Deducting from this the cost of works
etc. February 1, 1870, of si0S 026:51 less
the construction account for 1867 50 of
SIG. 64925. making this 1891 1926 gives the
city a surplus after paying investment
of s4a3, aS0.54. The total receipts over and
above expenditures for the five years
from 1896 to January l. 1902. was s223. "a
making the grand total of profits up to
1902. as claimed. of s717,449.os.
These figures. Mr.. Knowles said, were
prepared by Mr. II. B. Boudar: an ex-
pert accountant. and submitted in the
shape of a report to the joint committee
on finance and light.