The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-03

for house lighting.
Every practical gas man knows that
that tax theslngenuity of the most expert
to locate.
The inspectors Office has made every
effort to make all connections called Tor
and during the year 1904 connected up LILO
gas stoves or heaters. street seiyices
have likely been pushed. and contrary to
IRE not removed and tested. " there were
1870 removed, and res meters were tasted
and painted or repaired, as shown BY. my
q ra, l. report r., for the year le9t-about
All complaints are recorded in the In
spector,,s office and are responded to as
promptly as possible. A dilgent and care
Shelton.
Meters.
Tho criticism of the mode OF testing
meters is remarkable, since Mr.. Bruce
was willing to make his report on tho
basis of tests made in the same manner
w. F. Myer. J. maintain that. Mr.. Bruce
or Mr.. Cooke, his assistant, sHould have
made these tests themselves. They were
Further, our testings are made by m
approved TEST METER made by the
AMERICAN METER CO.. and is meter
No. 1sl. purchased about six months ago.
out of 10 meters tested he shows the
greatest discrepancy of 10 per cent. slow
On one meter only. and per cent. on
four Nine out OF IS meters tested, even
in our crude manner" were we'll with
in the adopted limit, as follows
The English standard and generally
adopted one Is a range between 2 per cent.
fast and per cent. slow for service
by Mr.. Bruce. / dare say the results
would be more satisfactory. However,
from the statement Of Mr.. Bruce you
will note thar the advantage, II any, has
been in favor of the consumers.
Mains.
AS to the question of nans. the Rich
mond City Gas Works were begun in the
year 1si9, and gas was first turned into
the mains in the spring of 1851. For
many years the. population of the city
was small and 1t was during the early
small mains were laid. You will note
the table below shows that during the
last 10 years 5000 feet of pipe. out of 49,
in size, and as rapidly as the Council
has allowed the department money. have
we provided Increased mains, as well as
other facilities.
Mains Laid.
At the end Of the. year 1894 there were
seventy miles, 1921 feet OF mains. while
eighty-five miles. 1.S43 feet OF mains. sizes
as follows:
2-In. s-in; Ain, Sin; Sin;
1891 1891 1s ss isssss sssit 1st7
Increase, 1921 1928 2o,sss 1891
1o-tn. Pin. 14-in. 2o5in; Pain.
1904 ......i5.ss1 1856 1855 1852 $40
Increase, 5,32s IL 3,4Os AIS
/ have been unable to find the dates
hat bn a y.tp which Mr. RrfIrp
compares the Richmond works were built
but 1t Is fair to assume that they were
built long since the Richmond plant was
built; hence comparisons can hardly be
fairly made.
outlying Holder.
From the minutes of the Committee on
Light Of May 8, 1904 you will find that
the superintendent requested the employ
ment Of a consulting gas engineer to en-
able the committee and your superintend-
ent to better determine the most suitable
location for the new gas holder.
From the contract maze with Robert
W. Hunt and Company. engineers. the
I'd day OF July, 1904, that firm was to
be consulting and supervising architects
and engineers for the location. construc-
ton and equipment of a gas holder The
articles of agreement drawn up and
made part of the above contract read:
We viii have our gas engineer visit your
city and make full study OF the condi
lions which should govern the location
OF the holder with reference to the pres
ent piping and future possibilities. He
will decide from an engineering standpoint
which one of the several sites offered
would be the best to accept
Furthermore, the greatest demands upon
the supply of gas In the future will be
in the middle and western section of our
city. where the pressure is now deficient.
The holders at the works can readily take
care OF the East End and Church Hill.
The criticism of the location Of the hold
err Is the difference Of opinion between
two consulting gas engineers solely. Our
experience has shown that we need the
holder In the West End and the time may
come when we shall want a gas manufac-
letter from Mr. ]. S. McIlhenny, June II,
1905.)
Instructions to Men.
The statement that the men at both
the upper and tl-- SsSer works labor unin-
structed is set at naught by the following
affidavits from the foremen of the lower
and the upper works, valvemen, meter
repairer and foreman of pipe laying force,
These statements are voluntary.
Purchasing Supplies.
The reference to the increased price
paid for supplies is in part iustihabe
The practice and precedent with the
municipal government OF our city has
been to give Richmond merchants and
manufacturers preference whenever pos
sible, and to distribute the city patronage
as equally as could be done. All pur-
chases amounting to 500 or more. when
possible, are bought from the lowest bid
der. after obtaining bids or prices. and
were the management to buy in larger
quantities the patronage could not be so
well distributed.
Further, all supplies are purchased I'M
der the ordnSHces of the city. which re-
quire the superintendent to make up a
list OF supplies and submit same to the
Committee on Light monthly. AS to the
disposition OF same, ~,ose watch has
been maintained at all times over all ma
terials OF every description whatever. and
your committee Will bear out my state
ment that all purchases have been with
a view to economical management.
Cost of Coke Under Benches.
Regarding comments relative to having
used at times higher percentage OF coke
under benches than at others, In order to
maintain heats on retorts. I would state
that the difference is due to the fact that
as the retort benches In opehation get
older they require more fuel for maintain
Ing heats.
Cost Beyond Holder.