The west shore., June 01, 1885, Page 186, Image 24

186
THE WEST SHORE.
OLYMP1A CAS WORKS.
rpiIE enterprise displayed in our Western cities in the
1 (lirvtion of cmtrneting pystm of gns and water
works is remarked by every visitor from the East There
Are but few cities of three thousand inhabitants on the
Count not provided with them, whilo the luxuries of gas
mid running water are enjoyed by many that do not yet
booHt of no great a Herniation. This is partly accounted
for by that widely diffused spirit of enterprise which is
carrying the West forward with such giant strides, and
partly by the confidence the business men of our growing
cities feel in their future prosjmrity And the enhanced
value of such proerty and franchises as they develop.
To the list of gas-lighted cities the city of Olympia, W.
T., lias just been added, by the construction of a complete
system of gas works.
On the 21th of OctoW, 1884, a franchise was granted
by the City Couucil to the Olympia Gas Company, and
on the 1st of November work wns begun, under a contract
for $30,000, by the Pacific Construction Company of
Taooma. The grounds of the company consist of five
lots, COxlOO feet each, with COO feet of water frontage.
Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, and the fact
that much of tho ground was tide-flat which had to be
reclaimed, tho contractors finished their work and turned
on the gas on tho 27th of March last, everything working
in perfect order. Tho works consist of a brick building,
42xG2 feet, embracing a retort houso, purifying room and
meter room; a coal shod, 110x50 feet, with a capacity of
300 tons, ami no situaUxl as to lie filled from vossols in
the bay; also a gas holder, or tank, 15x110 feet, with a
cajMUiity of 10,500 cubic feet of giw, having cant-iron
columns and wrought-iron girders. The works are so
arrange! as to bo easily increased in size and capacity.
The gaa is manufactured from South Prairio coal and is
of most excellent quality. Tho enterprise is a financial
success, ami the jHv.plo of Olympia are proud of this
latM addition to the metropolitan conveniences they
enjoy.
Tho nrU i success of the enterprise, and the superior
exoellenoo of the works ami the gas produced, are chiefly
due to the skill and careful work of the contractors. The
Pacifio Construction Company of Tocoma has gained a
reputation for oonscicutioua work and engineering skill
which entitles it to tho preference over all contractors
from a distance. The officers are G W. Harvey, Presi
dent; 1L L. Votaw, rWreUry, and J. L Stanford, Gen!
oral 8nH.rinU.ndent They are all gentlemen of known
responsibility, and such as give the comany tho highest
standing among our business men. The company has
other RM works under construction at Sin.kano Falls,
which it ia calculate will be fiuish.nl by tho 1st of Scu
tember. The pri, of making gas as employed in work
erecUvl by Uie Pacific Construction Compauy is very
aimplo and productive of Uie purest gas. The ooal is
introduced iuto Uie reUirU in proper quantities, 100
pound or mow, and at regular intervals, where it is sub.
jocUxl to a tomperatura of about 2,000 deg. Fahrenheit
This process reduces it to coke. The coal is allowed to
remain in the retorts from four to five hours, according
to the degree of temperature, secure from tlio contact of
the outside air. This is accomplished by stopping the
ends of the retorts with cast-iron doors, fastened by strong
clamps and screws, while the joints are hermetically
sealed with luting. As the gas is generated it passes up
through the stand pipes into the hydraulic main, where
it is made to part with much tar and am moniacal, liquid,
thence into the condenser to be sufficiently cooled for the
next process. The condenser comprises a system of cast
iron columns, quite ornamental in themselves, the one
opening into the other, thus allowing the gas to pass
down one and up another, until it has traversed the entire
system. The cooled and condensed fluid is then let into
the "washer and scrubber." This apparatus consists of
a wrought-iron cylinder, partly filled with coke, and upon
which a spray of water is always playing. The gas enters
this cylinder at the bottom, and, after passing up through
its contents, is rendered still more free from its original
ammoniacal accompaniments. It'is next conducted into
the purifiers. Of these there are two, each consisting of
a cast-iron box, i feet high, having a base 10 by 12 feet
Within these are five tiers of wooden trays, arranged
horizontally, and covered with dry lime to the depth of
about two inches. The gas enters these purifiers at the
bottom, and, after thoroughly permeating the lime, it has
parted with the last vestige of foreign and non-illuminating
matter. From the purifiers it goes into the station
moter, a vessel 30 inches in diameter, in which it is accu
rately measured and the result duly recorded by the
usual automatio devices. Lastly, it is introduced into
the holdor, which is the grand reservoir already described.
From the holder a pipe leads back into the meter room,
whore the pressure is regulated, and then the fmn Blurts
on ite journey of usefulness through the great arterial
iiu oi sweet mains, from which it is conducted by
service pipes into the public buildings, shops, stores and
homos of consumers. How many of the thousands who
turn the key and touch a match to the burner ever stop
U) think of the means by which such a simple act is made
to Hixxl their room with light?
'.
PiioFEHsoB James Wahhen, of Los Angeles, Cal.,
electrio light station, is the inventor of a new process for
mincing ores, which is done by the aid of electricity,
wuo day, win e examining a piece of gold-bearing quartz,
he accidentally lot it fall into one of the dynamos, which
was in motion at the tma n t..
vu tuu&iiiu iur uie piece "i
quartz the next day he found it in the dynamo, and to
i 7, 8 ,u 11,6 (uartz hftd melted and run to
one side of the rock, forming a beautiful button. Pro-
mlT , l n lm,nediately instituted a series of experi
nnto, and has succeeded in evolving a process by which
B'1U, silver and eoi.twr ., k ,l ,
concentrations by a powerful electrio shock, which almost
equals in U luteusity a stroke of lightning. , The experi
menU so far mula I.. .:t . e . ,B . .. r
. . - uueu on ieaa ana antimony
I0" Ameruxut Engineer. -