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

MUWLt1 hEfLI[1
to- BRUCE REPORT
glneer OF New York city That report
makes certain statements regarding the
condition and management Of tho city
works that are misleading ana erroneous
to such Il degree that feel called upon
to answer sumo in order to place the NM inas-
In answering his report 4 snail take the
items as near In. the order that nc has
put them ,a, as possible POSI- ,,ch ~ ~. renort
that j commend. and you will lind That
your superintendent mas continuously and
Repeatedly recommended many OI the
things as necessary to the proper conduct
and economical antLnngeifent OF the
works, which MIR. Bruce now says are
Mr.. Bruce's figures as to the cost OF the
coal and water gas separai , are cr ID.
peatedIy for appropriations 10 purchase
the appliances ana make the improve.
ments necessary. to meter these gases
separately and thus be able. TO arrive. ut
the cost and output OF each plant. Not
having the funds 70 install tne separation
of eucn gas made. Crnis Is done III many
works throughout the cuuntfyJ
Station Meter.
The cost of gas has been based upon the
registration OF the station meter las IL is
JIG AL works throughout tho country, for
The reason that the volume Of gas pro-
duced can only be arrived at In that man
,ier: II Is stated that the meter has not
been s. tested ,d Ior years" although TINS me
drum placed witnin 1t In 1893 by a reliable
lifIn or meter builders, and having report
importance, the very fact Mr. Bruce did
not report the meter out OF order and
registering falsely. IL good evidence mat
ne round It to be. in good condition..
He further calls attention to the fact
tnat the registration has never been cor
resjled Tor variations IN Temperatures,
WHlch ls true, but he did not state what
ne Knows 10 be fact, that excepting
lew companies tand they only the very
business is accounted tor without the cor
fection mentioned. Why he did not state
.iiat the registration mad not. been cor
iected for variation in the height OF baro-
meter IL surprising, as It Is common
KNOWLEDGE among the gas fraternity. that
!. must be corrected TO ~ degree tempera-
ture and 30 degree barometer.
But why should we correct our gas ii
summer Tor temperature of say degrees
above The normal when we sell tile great
ei portion OF 1t at the temperature at
which II is registered; there Is no good
valid reason.
Inventory.
Regarding the increase and decrease OF
charges or credits against the cost OF
gas; for example, the Inventory OF sup
creased s3d22.s7 over that at the beginning
OF the year 1903, and at the close OF inc
sl SssiE 7's' the inventory had Increased
Both OF which amounts were credits
asa,inst the expenditures for the years
~, Mr.; Bruce Bruce says that he could not obtain
lne Hgures OF inventory at the close OF
the year 1901. These figures could nave
been furnished him or his assistant mad he
Line. of his visit the figures were IN the
lands OF the city printer Further, the
changing figures OF these inventories have
neen those for meters. pipe fittings, coal,
OIL, coke. brick and purifying materials
liner items i have not been changed per-
Street Lighting.
Regarding the cost of street lamps.
under our system of lighting and cxtin-
gushing lights many OF the street lamps
burn in the winter from IA to 10 hours.
hours. which Is is ienser osi ha a any pri.
yate corporation base their contracts on.
From the best statistics obtainable fair
price per night is s7-lec. single light,
which on an average OF 40 street lamps
during 1905 would make SO, 1880. or more
by slslS,7o than is charged in my report
how Mr.. Bruce arrives at his. figures OF
ta1 IS IS to n,s s peg year , Further note
gas companies and two contracts--one for
=, per year for II candle power street
From exhibit "F'' OF the report / notice
that every lamp tried was west OF Elev-
entil ana Capitol Streets, and lamp No, 0
Of the test evidently had some stoppage in
the supply pipe. l have recently tested
burners and pressures at the points shown
under the title or pressures, which will
supstantiate my reports
Furthermore. even on the basis used
~ Mr. Bruce. he has not reported correct
that number were not in use for The entire
year. My figures of 74o lamps is the aver
age number in use during the year.
Manufacturing Costs.
Regarding the large amount charged for
Incidental expenses and the cost obtained
by Mr.. Bruce. He has based his figures for
3u3.2 .II0 cubic feet, which Is matter OF
e estimate ma with him, Our figures OF 3o6,-
40, ES4 shall show later are not inflated
but are good and will hold.
As to the wages paid employees. these
are regulated by the Council itself. and
White men in other plants throughout the
h sess IA 9 w1 bs
ment that the retort house stokers work
i portion of each hour only, viii appear
- any one at all familiar with the prac-
Teal part of gas making In such a manner
as to need no comment.
a from recent ut fi Is prepared from my
ufactured and sold. including street light
ms ng' 5000; interest s (2n so, sis.;
extension. sl0,577.55 was .siia per NJ cubic
feet. : -
tnls amount could he properly added
the cost or substation man in Treasurer 8
office. $4,000 per nnnum, which would in
crease the cost CO.'S per NJ cubic feet. II this
in addition to our present office force we
could collect all gas bills and account
for them.
We have no means Of aScerta.ring the
emol mt to be properly charge,l for other
Incidental expenses us lilcl,:dcd by Mr..
Bruce Che has estimated only and con-
slider further comparisons useless.
Regarding the criticism of our manufac-
turing cost. In my report for 1885 you VIII
ind when took charge OF the works in
June last. i found them in bad condi-
ton" and Immediately with the approval
of the Committee on Light we had re-
pairs made to coal and water gas plants
10 condensers and purifiers and to large
holder at Upper Works. (This holder was