The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-03
Graham B. iiobson Reads With
Surprise Sunday Shutdown
Was Contemplated
SAME. CONDITIONS
In EXISTENCE FOR
MONTH, HE SAYS
Administrative Board Finds 1t
10 to Blame For Weather
Conditions. Stalled Traffic
and Lack of Oil at Plant

Conn missioner Graham p. Hohson
OF the administrative board SAYS
there is no apparent danger Of an i'm
m rebate shutdown OF the city gas
works, despite the attempt OF an
evening newspa per to scare the cit
fSens and 10 place the blame for traf-
nc conditions and the shortage OF oil
upon tho board
The gas works, hike all other con-
Germs. have been affected by the
weather conditions. said Commits
sioner Hobson last night I'VE have
SORT OF been living from hand 10
mouth. setting q daily supply of oil
Ter t@ gas works and keeping things
M to The best possible standard ur-
der the circumstances. The gas
works VIII not shut down unless
something unexpected happens"
The shortage of oil at the gas
works has been known for more
than month In December two
ua bargeS In low for Richmond be-
came ice-hound. one OF Norfolk, the
other off Annapolis. The city tug
tried 10 reach the Norfolk tanker
but couid tot get down the James.
oil From, Baltimore.
Comm tssiener tlobson then ar
taneed far a daily suppiv Of oil to
be shipped 0y rsit from Baltimore
The oil Tor tha sss works Is stored on
the SoutnSide su the big tanks Of the
STANDARD OH company and them is
SAipned across tha river Ia the gas
works whenever II ~ needed The
Oh in the Southside tanks has been At
r low chb foy some time hut the daily
supply GTaug 1saltiG7ore obta ned by
Comm sslonar l4C-,son through the
tour}e@v 81 the railroad officials. has
k@p; the Eos plant going and it viii
continue b. operate ua}eas traffic
conditions become So h5a trains can
1fs~r-rUo
Although ts~ze facts rave been
yu0ii~hoe an arsernoon rewspape>
l.rj@lei on the fret 49, last oven
sag rs shrieKiu~ ty.e. City Faced
. G3e Famine Fv Suntay" On the
lesst pe.ge Of the same paper vas this
announcements:
Additional Tank cars 70 Relieve
Gas situation with n statement from
Superintendent W. = Knowles OF the
Gas works declaring there is no dan
ger Of The manufa oture Of gas being
discontinued
Tries 10 scare Citizens
IN its first pcge article the paper
said:
HtE%S y Gar iD3A NR va Ssiu W nv
hung up at cIopton, where the engine
: 3s reported frozen and unable IN
aanve, is gotten into ARichmond this
afternoon. the city gas plant WIN he
compelled to close down sunday.
Mayor Ains,ie today said that the
situation had not bean brought 10
his attention.
.srhe adninistrati live board was no.
tiled ~ Superintendent Knowles
uation.
I ..supe,fntendsnt Knowles In
charge of the ras department. says
that he IS helpless. He has report
ed the matter "a his superior, the
administrative board. and cannot go
over the head of the board.
Mayor Ainslfe has taken no steps
because he has not been notified by
the board
Early this afternoon II was said
that a member of tho board was leav-
fug nv autom ohile for Clopton TO see
what could he done to get the car
of oil in motion.
superintendent Knowles. realizing
the danger. will not turn on gas. in
the event 1t should be cut of, except
IN the daytime. To do otherwise
might cause death by Ras admitted
into rooms through Jets left OPEN"
If the cars OF oil should not arrive
on schedule time IT is likely the gas
works would have to shut down when
the supply at the works is used up.
Mayor No Weather Ruler.
Mayor George Ainsiie could do
nothing even II the matter was call
"a TO hts attention unless he IS ca
Fable OF changing the weather and
Improving traffic conditions. The sit
uation II the same as 1t has been for
more than a month.
Superintendent Knowles and the
administra tive board have been aware
Of conditions during that time end so
has the public which reads the morn
lnG newspapers.
The administrative board could not
do any more thar 1t has done unless
the board is directly responsible for
| the terrible weather from which the
| whole country is suffering.
Commissioner Hohson was asked II
| the board was responsible for wealth
ar and traffic conditions and the lack
| Of oil. He said:
"weii. we may as well be blamed