THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT 

 OF SMALL GASWORKS. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



THE expression a "small" gasworks is one of degree. 

 Those interested in concerns of the first magnitude, such as 

 are to be found in London and our principal provincial 

 towns, might look upon a 50,000,000 or 100,000,000 

 cubic feet works as " small," while others, whose ex- 

 perience has been confined to villages and small towns, 

 would consider works of such magnitude to be decidedly 

 large. But the expression, as understood in the pro- 

 fession, is a qualifying adjective applied to those under- 

 takings whose operations are not sufficient in extent 

 to warrant the employment of a whole time resident 

 manager. With an output of 10,000,000 cubic feet or so 

 per annum, there is usually sufficient work to warrant the 

 employment of a qualified man who combines the offices of 

 manager, secretary, clerk and collector, and generally 

 takes entire charge of the daily operations, under the 

 control of a board of directors, who meet once a month. 

 And with modern requirements in view, the magnitude at 

 which the introduction of an individual of this class can be 

 reasonably considered is decidedly reduced, as he has the 

 



