Whole Works At Gas Works

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 55, 27 November 1937, Page 18

Whole Works At Gas Works

GOUDHTJRST. — A gas works run by the smallest staff of any in Great Britain is. claimed by this Kent village oi nearly 3000 people,- For the Goudhurst gas works are tuu by just one mac. Arthur. Fisher is this modern Poohbah. . No unsightly gasometer is allowed to blot out the sky, for the gas workst founded nearly 70 years ago, are buried away just off the road and surrounded by old cottages and woods. Mr Fisher starts his day in an advisory capacity. He has to determine how much gas the works must produce to keep the village supplied for tho next 2i hours. He finds this is generally about 15,000 "cubic feet, Switching' over f rom the executive side in real eamest, Mr Fisher then proceeds to his duties as coal-heaver and eokebreaker. .He shovels several tons of coal into the great ovens. When the gas has been drawn off and stored, the coke is broken np, washed and put into sacks for deliveiy. Mr Fisher then turns delivery man. He takes the ' sacks of coke round to the villagers on a little hand cart. Somo of his customers live a mije away. No suhsidiary company is neeessary to deal with the by-product, for Mr Fisher manages these too. He sejls about 3000 gallons of tar during iae year, mueh of which he delivers himself. Upkeep and repair departments arc also under the same direction.- The little engine which drives the pump to circulate the gas to conSumers nas to be kept running night and day. if there is a break-down customers send the news to Mr Fisher, who cyeles dr ,-n to repair the offCnding engine. His home is three miles away. The maintenance of the apparatus lent to customers also comes uncier his supervision — if a stove is not working or a gas mantle has been broicen, Mr Fisher cycles at once to effeet the repair. ' In addition to npkeep of the garden at the back of the woTks, where he grows tomatoes, Mr Fisher lills in his "spare" timo with oiling and repairing the machinery, keeping the plaut in working order, answering inquiries and cleaning the yard