The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-22
GAS COMPETITION
WON'T HELP CITY
Richmond Can Make Gas Cheap
ly as Private Company, Says
Knowles.
NOT RUNNING AT MAXIMUM
Plant Can Produce Onc-Third
More Without Material Ex-
pense Increase.
NOT RUNNING AT MAXIMUM

Richmond's municipal gas plant, ac-
cordins to Superintendent knowles. Is
abundantly able to care for the city's
needs for years to come. and, with mod
crate additions can DO made to pro-
vide for every foot Of tho new terri
tory It is proposed to take in under tho
pending annexation ordinance. Re-
ports to the contrary Notwithstanding.
me superintendent claims the gas
works. generally speaking. are modern
ana ethcient and as good as any in the
country. o
I do not wish to disparage any COM
pahy seeking gas manufacturing privi-
ieges In Richmond" said Mr.. Knowles
10 mo Ilmes-Dispatch last night. but
my opinion Is that the city is abie IN
make gas as cheaply as any cornora-
ton. no matter what its resources. 81
not cheaper. It's ability to SUNNY
cheaper gas will vary directly with the
oeii'aho Tor an Increased production.
Not Using Maximum
! The situation in nutshell 10 thi,.
we have an expensive and weIl-an.
pointed plant. operating under n com
paratiVely heavy overhead expense but
are manufacturing only up to two
thirds or our capacity. In summer we
urop 10 little moro than half ca
pacity 1t must be clear to everybody
mat 40 plant can make it's best show
ing unless operated at or near its
capacity. We can manufacture about
one third as much again without in
creasinG materially our EXPENSE for
labor and superintendent AS we an
proach our maximum producing capa-
city there Is n corresponding dron IN
the cost of production
IL has been charged that our appa
ratus Tor manufacturing coal gas IL
not modern. / cannot agree II r,,v
lack some of tho
The economy of many of these is still
IN open question. am Of the opinion
that our water and coal gas-makinr
plants are thoroughly efficient and as
sooo as any L will go ms far as to
say that we can make gas as cheaplv
as anybody else
Additions Are Needed.
The problem of supplvinp gas N
the territory II is proposed to annex
is problem of adding to the gas
worxs; not Improving them. In my
annual report I made several recon-
mendations in this direction Two or
three OF the smaller additions | sur-
sested are being constructed Other
important ones have been passed by.
recommend in my report that the
Tor the future development of tho Gas
works on lines which Will take care
or the rapidly-growing territory.
suggested that city purchase ali the
land lying east and west of the Lower
Gas Works-ea3t OF the works all tho
land lying between the Chesapeake and
OHIO Railway trestle on the north and
the Viaduct on the south to Gillie's
Creek; and west OF the works, the land
between the same trestle and the South
ern Hallway to the east side of Elm
street This additional space would
provide for all extensions needed
increase Coal Gas Capacity.
In making up my annual report,
anticipated the recent increase in the
price OF crude oil. l recommend that
additions to the plant be constructed
en- the additional land to be acquired
70 increase the coal gas generating ca
Pacity to 100000 cubic feet day
serving warning that tho continued
advance In tho price OF oil will COM
rel return to coal gas
Il consider that the city has been
fortunate in being able to contract
for crude oil even at the Increased
price I advertised for bids for Penn
syivania oil without receiving a single
response. ! next advertised for Middle
states oil. and received only one bid
and that from the Standard Oil Com
lany Oil is getting scarcer and
scarcer. and many private gas-making
corporations are unable to secure II at
all.
AS to Gns Competition.
ut is not my desire to be brought
Tito the competitive gas controversy
but / will say freely that 1 can't see
how Richmond could benefit by compe-
tltion. The city buy raw mato-
rial Is cheaply as any ono. It IS a
large consumer. whereas the output
and buying power OF a competing com
pany Will always be restricted We
have a modern plant and equipment,
and can mako additional gas up to our
inaximum capacity with practically no
additional expense.
"AS far the SOnfhStda 10
ed no problem exists at all y system
of mains and pipes costing $4,000 is
already installed and $4,000 in bonds
is available to extend the system to
mond and much Of the territory that
Will be annexed Gas will be turned
into the Southsde mains not later than
October 15"
Rival Company in Field.
The foregoing statement Of Mr..
Knowles Is particularly significant In
Wow OF the airing of the competitive
: gas problem which is promised for
next Thursday afternoon. Tho Sub
. committee OH Streets will meet at 6
o'clock that afternoon to pass upon the
! application Of the Manchester Light
! Heat and Power Company for a thirty
year franchise to engage In the bust
! ness OF supplying gas to South Rich
| n.ond in competition with the city. The
] company has at present a franchise
granted by the old city Of Manchester
in 1900, under which 1t has been ope-
rating n small plant FOR tho manu-
] facture of acetylene gas.
Behind the applying company Is the
\ Henrico County Gas Company, financed
by Northern capital, which has al
present in operation plant in North
4 Richmond, which supplies gas to Bar
ton Heights. Ginter Park. Highland
a F'ark, and other Northern suburbs
n Counsel for the Manchester company
4 promise to submit next Thursday a
! comprehensive statement showing the
q advantages that would accrue to the