Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-02
slGAS WORKS NARROWLY
EsI''Fs SHORTAGE
BY Working t and Day Reserve
ut Holders Is Gradually
S,e-sv Increased.
COLD WEATHER DRAINS TANKS
Knowles Says That During Worst OF
Is Cold Wave Supply Was Lowest II
Has Ever Bccn-Dangcr OF Shut
Down Now ayerted.

Tremendous effort day and night.
with the plant operating continuously
at full capacity, resulted last night in
1.-The largest supply of gas in the holders
at the Lower Gas Works IN the past
five days, and with a moderation in
the weather and corresponding de-
crease in consumption. the threatened
shortage OF gas III Richmond was
passed. For six days. since :he colo
wave ncarcd this city, tho Gas Works
were taxed TO meet the demands, while
frozen service pipes, which was tho
most extensive in recent years, caused
additional trouble.
..s. Every employee of the department.,
with the exception OF the Office staT
iii the City Hall, worked through the
holiday yesterday in a concerted drive
on King Cold. When night fell. the
department was In the best condition
II has been for five days, and Superin-
te?dcnt w. J.. Knowles declared that
barring the unforeseen and n continual
ton, of tho cold wave, they would pull
through the situation satisfa ct rily.
Is Consumption Of gas increased cnor-
Tiously during the cold weather Of the
nast week, while tho demands throus h-
out the winter have been the greatest
IN the history of the plant For the
using gas heaters as auxiliaries to their
heating systems, which. coupled with
the normal consumption for lighting
and heating. threatened tho supply at
the works, and the surplus in the hold.
ers dropped appreciably.
FEAR OF SHORTAGE:
is NOW DlSPELLEn
Superintendent Knowles called every
employee Of the department to service
NJ taI
~ at full capacity. Cold weather made
certain operations al the plant difticult
yet the men stood at their posts, and
day and night shifts were employed
As result the supply OF gas last night
was sufficient to tIspcl any fear of a
shortage. and department officials ex-
perienccd their first real relief from
anxiety for week
Mr.. Knowles said last night that dur
ing the cold wave the supply in the
holders was the lowest 1t had ever been
since his connection with the plant
The number of frozen service pipes was
also the greatest he had ever known
the cold penetrating the ground below
the pipes during the continued wave
United effort was made yesterday to
thsw out these small pipes. and restore
service 10 homes whose supply had
been cut off.
Kichmond's gas plant has been more
fortunate than many public utility
plants in other sections of the country
and has felt no shortage in coal or OIL
Coal has been received regularly. and
there Is fairly large supply on hand
at the works. while the quantity OF
oil in storage is sufficient TO last for
some time. Another barge load OF oil
is expected 10 reach Richmond to-day
and the Ice in the James River is not
c4pncted to prevent it's arrival.
The cold wave caused slight Diff
Guilty at tho City Electric Plant, which
was forced 10 use a slightly larger
amount of coal for lis operation, but
no serious trouble arose. This was also
true OF tho Water Department. The
supply in the reservoir yesterday morn
ing was nineteen feet. Superintendent
Eugene Davis said last night, and the
department was in excellent condition.
Many service pipes were frozen during
the past week, but only one main
that across tho Fifth Street Eiaduct-
froSe. This pipe frozc last winter. but
caused no Inconvenience. provision be-
,Ins. made for supplying tho northern
section of the city by other mains.