66 CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SMALL GASWORKS. 



CHAPTER VI. 



COMMENCING OPERATIONS. 



So far, I have been dealing with an embryo gasworks, and 

 dating my remarks from some period anterior to the date of 

 construction. Consideration of design, etc., however, is not 

 much help if the works has already been provided and is 

 ready for use, and it is more a question of utilizing available 

 material to the best advantage. Now it is proposed to 

 move on to a later stage, and to assume that the construc- 

 tion has been completed, and that the contractor, after his 

 work has been accepted and passed as satisfactory and in 

 accordance with contract, by the engineer, has removed his 

 scaffolding and all belongings, leaving everything complete 

 and ready for use. 



The next step is to engage a competent working manager, 

 capable of being left in charge, to carry on the daily opera- 

 tions. He will regularly or occasionally require the help of 

 unskilled labour, according to the scale of operations, but 

 no further technical assistance will be called for. He must, 

 to some extent, be a "jack of all trades," but not necessarily 

 a " master of none," as it is well that he should be able, in 

 addition to carrying on the regular operations at the works, 

 to advise consumers, attend to complaints, lay services and 

 fix meters. Sometimes a local plumber or ironmonger 

 takes up the outside department, but the result is not so 



