The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-17
THRtE-SH|FT PLAN
At CITY GAS WORKS
Mr.. Hirschberg's Figures Show Would
Decrease Working Hours OF Men
But Give Better Results.
ESTIMATES SEEM CONVINCING
Much Time and Fuel Uselessly Ex-
pended Under Present Arrangement
of Two Tvyelvc-HOur Forces.

Commissioner Hirschberg at the
meeting of the administrative board
yesterday introduced a proposition OF
considerable importance, tending to
the increased efficiency of the gas de-
partment. He suggests that instead
of a twelve-hour shift at the plant, as
now prevails, an eight hour shift be
according to figures compiled by Mr..
Hirschberg and practically endorsed by
Superintendent Knowles, gains about
$3.50 a day in revenue, the employees
are given more reasonable and gener-
Gus working hours. and the plant saves
material, besides giving a greater flow
OF gas. In his remarks to the board
yesterday, Mr.. Hirschberg suggested
that because of the high price of fuel,
there would probably be an enormous
demand for gas during the winter. and
under the arrangement proposed. the
plant could supply this anticipated de-
mand. In his report the commission
er says:
After making an investigation OF
the working hours of the men at the
lower gas works. both in the soal and
wafer gas uepdf LII eIlts, lliid lHdi the
following condition prevails:
In both the coal and water gas de-
partments it is assumed that the men
work a full twelve hours. 1t is truz
that these men are on duty twelve
hours. but in the meantime the ma
chimes in the water gas department
are started at $40 A NJ and run un-
til 500 p. M, again starting at $40
F. NJ. and running until 400 A. NJ ,
which is loss in time OF three hours
and twenty minutes each twenty four
hour day. IF the board would see fit
to change this plant into a straight
eight-hour working basis it would pro-
duce more gas and save coke, as when
the machines get cold between the ais
continuance of run and the starting
OF the next run II REQUIRES more coke
TO start than II it was a continuous
run for the fun twenty-four hours
Another thing is that II will clink
quicker and the machines can get a
run quicker and in all probability you
Will be able to get in an extra run
which will mean more gas. This is
in regards TO the water gas plant
In reference to the coal gas plan
you would get more coke IL you would
Draw every four hours instead of ev-
cry six hours, and II would be less
work for the reason tina, the stand
pipe would not stop up as often as
1t has in the past
In the water gas plant II would re-
quire on the big machine forty-fve gal
Ions OF oil to make an additional run
which. at 1850 per gallon. would be
total OF 1891. For an additional
run on the two small machines II
would require twenty five gallons Of
oil for each machine, Atty gallons at
.Ssc. per gallon-s36 II these
three machines-the one large one and
two small ones-were continuous II
would give us forty-fve runs per
twentyfour hours, which, with the
1900 cubic feet each run In the big
machine and II 900 cubic feet each
run in the small machines. would
mean 500, 900 cubic feet of gas az soc
per thousand cubic feet, or $4,000.
The additional amount required for
manufacturing this is as follows:
Water Gas Plant
OH famount required to