ON RAISING AND LAYING OUT CAPITAL. 25 



wall is saved, and the maximum yard space secured. The 

 principal buildings may be so grouped as to utilize as far 

 as possible both sides of each wall, having due regard to 

 considerations of safety. The tar and liquor well and the 

 purifiers must be well away from the furnaces. The retort 

 house should have gables parallel with the settings, as the 

 former can be lengthened indefinitely without more taking 

 down than the removal of one end wall. The condenser 

 tubes should be of comparatively large size, and with that 

 proviso any of the usual forms of condenser can be enlarged 

 by simple addition. More columns may be annexed, or the 

 existing ones lengthened. Provision for telescoping and 

 thus doubling the capacity of a gasholder at a future time 

 is not a costly addition. While the works are in process 

 of construction there is some saving in first cost by 

 arranging an excess capacity throughout of about 50 per 

 cent., as compared with the cost of enlargement to a similar 

 extent by a subsequent operation, and circumstances may 

 exist to fairly warrant such a proceeding. But in the average 

 country district habits of life are primitive, and likely to 

 remain so. The introduction of gas will not affect them. 

 The shops will continue to close at 7 p.m., as before, and 

 lights will be out at 10, as a general rule. 



Another cause of excessive capital is simple incompe- 

 tence. If a skilled firm is engaged to carry out the whole 

 scheme, not only will the works be well designed, but com- 

 petent working instructions will be given as to operation 

 and management. But sometimes a local resident, having 

 no training or previous experience in the profession, will 

 undertake to manage and engineer the company, and in 

 this connection it is a too frequent practice to make an 

 unfair use of the drawing office staff of the constructing 

 engineer, by getting the firm to provide unsigned designs, 



