Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-07
SAYS Gas IN RICHMOND
is BEST IN UNITED STATES
Present Plant Can Supply
Normal Needs of City of
100000 Population.
REPLACE ANrIaUATED MAINS
Approximation OF S25O.UsS VIII Enable
City TO Install More Modern Equip
ment In Flncc of That Worn
Out.

The declaration was made without
fear OF successful contradiction" "a;
conference last night between a
subcommittee OF the Utilities Com
mittoe Of City Council. Director Of
Public Utilities TraIrord. Major Mar
shall NJ. Milton, specialist connected
with the gas department., and William
Lawton. Of the department. that gas
furnished tho people of Richmond is
tho best similarly supplied by any
city OF the hrst-class in the United
States
The statement was made by Coun-
Gilman James T.. Peters. OF the com
mittcc. WHO bases his informal ton
upon that OF a gas expert. OF Detroit.
who told him that, following an in
vestiEs ton of number OF plants
throughout the country, he had found
Richmond leading them all. Major
Milton agreed with Mr.. Peters, and
declared further that not only is
Richmond gas the best in the coun
try, but the present plant can supply
normal needs Of a city Of 100000
population for an indefinite period.
This statement, startling in its ma
ture, brought out tho query: Then.
IL Richmond has such superb gas.
how is it that the distribution is so
imperfect"
Due to Imperfect Connections.
Director Tranord explained that
much OF the trouble is due TO inper-
feet connections within houses he
ing supplied. Trouble also is due.
he said, to small mains constructed
many years ago, before gas stoves
and ranges were installed, and when
mains were OF sufficient size TO sup
ply all gas necessary for lighting
Il ni,,S
and pipes have become corroded and
plugged UP with substances produced
by constant use. Many OF them are
of insufficient size to supply the de-
mand in ncighborhoodS where the
range is universally used
But" explained AIr. Trafrord. with
an appropriation of $3.50, 600 during
tho next twelve months. we expect to
replace most OF these old and anti
quatcd mains With larger ones, thus
giving every section OF tho city rs
full flow as may hc demanded"
Number or Complaints Negligible.
During the course OF the confer
cncc. many questions were put by
members OF the committee. They
learned that the average number OF
daily complaints, many OF them
minor. was only sevcpty-hve. which,
from - 5000 customers. was considered
practically negligible. They learned
that the comparative difference in
monthly bills was due mainly Ia care
lessness and indifference on the part
of customers themselves. One COM
plainant had found his bills varied
with changes in the personnel OF Ms
servants.
Director Tranord stated ne had
perfected plans for complete rchahi-
,itation Of the main system. Tie does
not expect TO tear up the streets OF
the city all AT one time. but pro-
poses to go about the matter sys-
tcmatically There are eighty miles
Of small and old pipe in the city.
Most OF this will. within the next
year, lie replaced by larger mains
In reply To question by Mr..
Peters, the director said the funds
at his disposal would he sunicicn, to
do the work contemplated. He has
more than 100000 remaining from II
bond issue, and expects Ia spend
about half Of that during the next
twelve months.
The committee. embracing Alder
man W. stewart White, chairman:
Councilmen Djckerson and Peters,
was named by Chairman Claude L.
Eatkins, of the Committee on util-
tiles to look into the causes Of poor
supply OF ras in certain sections, and
To find. If possible, a remedy. The
committee learned that the causes
were hrccfold: old and small pipes.
Imperfect interior fixtures and un-
precedcnted demand in certain neigh
borhoods. The cnmmtt.t c alshlcarned
tina; the supply is..-praettcaily limit
less, that IL is the best 'ohtainabl
and that new and larger mains are
being placed In many sections. and
that the condition would II. greatly
improved as the months pass. and
that; within year. the situation
would have reached u stage in which
complaints would he few and far be-
tween.
Director Tranord said the depart
ment az once took up every COM
plant no matter how trivial. and
that cvcryihing is being done 10 re-
lieve amy particularly ConGrstcd
neighbour The subcommittee
vii! report 1" tho general committee
At lis next meeting, December -