The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-31
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pressure at tho valves. MS proper study
the conditions would have suggested.
New Appliances Needed.

49, our expert reports that the quality of our
gas. as far rs impurities werc concerned. was.
~ the time of his test, very good, but that we
have no appliances for making the proper oh.
servations as 10 its lighting power. although
tire superintendent has frequently requested that
he be furnished with such appliance.
IA. We find that many OF the services are
less than one inch In diameter. which is much
10 small, and that the method of testinu and
repairing meters is very crude. In fact there
no system used In testing the meters, and
n test made upon number of meters by our
expert shows that they vary from ten per cent.
slow Ia 1--WE per cent. fast.
10. We lind that no systematic RECORD OF our
meters Is Kept, though 1t Is very important net
such record should be kept. ard that the
method of accounting is unnecessarily labo
10. We find that the method OF purchasing
Supplies In small quantities. now in vogue in
the department. Is not the most economical. and
that the purifying material now purchased can
be manufactured much moro cheaply than 1T
can be bought. There is also an enis,a lack
OF system of Keeping account OF the disposition
of material purchased under expense account
IL. We find that certain daily records are
kept at the lower works. but the information
contained In these records Is not made use Of
The records show at times wide variations in
the amounts OF material used per thousand cubic
feet OF gas made. but as far rs we can learn.
no effort has ben made to discover the cause.
II more attention had ben given to such details
our results would have been better.
Last Falls Complaint.
is. We find that during the month of octo.
her, 1925 the number OF complaints OF INSULT
cient supply received ut our inspectors Office
was Sie. which Is practically double the number
received during the same month of 1904 The
Number ofacowpialntsi received this year. 1905,
we do not think, however, gives fair idea OF
the poor service, great number of our con.
sumers have by this time reached the conclu.
sion that they are fortunate to have any gas
Mt their burners. and that there Is nothing to
be gained 10y complaining We. further, can
not find that any steps have been taken by our
superintendent to follow up the causes of these
complaints. with view OF permanently rem
edying the trouble.
10. In our opinion. the management OF our
gas property has been By no means ericinet
nor farsighted In saying this do not wish
10 be construed rejecting upon the COM
mlttee on Light committee or as indivd-
unls. but simply to record oui opinion that the
system is at fault, and, in justice to our si-
perintcndent. 1T should be stated that he has
frequently pointed out the need of improved
ABILITIES at the works and that conditions
would not now be az bad as they nre IL the
Council had needed his recommendations.
Worn Out Apparatus.
In order to keep abreast with the develop
the natural increase In consumption due to the
citys growth. apparatus found to be worn out,
obsolete or of inadequate capacity, should have
been replaced, and our distributing pipes should
have been extended and enlarged.
This has not been done. Instead. 1t has been
purposes to minimum making show OF ap-
parcntly large returns. with the ultimate result
that we find ourselves facing the necessity for
n large outlay for replacement and extension.
20. From a careful study OF all the informa-
tion on this subject that was available to your