74 CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SMALL GASWORKS. 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE MANAGER ON THE WORKS. 



THE operations commence in the retort house, and here 

 the usual working conditions are such as not to warrant 

 high heats and short period charges, and the six-hour charge 

 finds general favour. Sometimes it will be found that eight- 

 hour charges give better results, especially when the heats 

 are rather below par. Some care should also be taken in 

 the way of finding out the best weight for each charge; and 

 skill in this respect will tell at the end of the year. If the 

 scale of operations does not warrant the employment of 

 more than one man, and banking up at night is, conse- 

 quently, a necessity, it is desirable to spread the charges as 

 widely as possible. It is more convenient for the man to 

 work 6 a.m., 12 noon and 6 p.m., but better for the retorts 

 and for the working results if they are spread to 6 a.m., 

 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 



Some judgment must be exercised in arranging to 

 keep the retorts fairly clean, as there is no economy 

 in running dirty retorts. Not only is the gas yield 

 reduced, but there is a larger consumption of fuel and 

 increased wear and tear on the retorts and settings. For 

 small works, I am strongly in favour of the 5-inch air pipe at 

 the back of the retort, extending through the back wall and 

 provided with a cast-iron cap and screw clip. When the 

 retort is to stand off for cleaning, the cap is removed, and a 



