New-York tribune., 1874-10-14
THE EVILS OF GAS-MAKING.
RESULTS OF SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE GAS
WORKS.

RESULTS OF SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE GAS
WORKS.
f. II. James, NJ. d., one of the Sanitary In
spectOrs, has made very v0luminous report to the
Health upon the foul odors OF the eastern part
Of the city, between Thirteth and Fourteenth-sts.
The sewers says washed out with water and the
theory is that by this means they are Thoroughly
cleansed. In q dry season, however when the water
supply Is limited, the organic matter Is lot removed
from the sides Of the Here 1t cings. and be-
coming partly dried the water recedes sewer gas 10
developed by the decomposition OF the efee matter
This gas penetrates by drains into residences
and causes offensive odors. which become the
subiec. Of complaint TO the Board OF Health.
The manufacture Of illuminating Is recognized as
fruitful source foul In all destructive dstiila
ton gases evolved which offensive to most per
sons dsatioD OF coal Is employed In the process OF
gasmakng, during which the impurities are separated
from the gas agent agents for which there IA
affinity, and upon the care and management OF
the purifying agents depends the presence or absence
of impurities the atmosphere. IL is we'll known that
the foul odOrs duo to the escape OF
sulphide Of ammonium and sulphureted hydrogen,
mingled with other 0dors. 10 Is important that the
agent employed shall not only thoroughly purify the
gas but retain the foul gases by chemical action
render them innocuous The principal agents used are
oxide of iron and Ine each having its advocates Ii Is
claimed that the iron decomposes the suphureted by
ing with the oxygen OF the iron and the sulphur CON-
bping with the iron form q compound, which, upon
being exposed to the atmosphere, Ia again decom-
posed, the iron absorbing oxygen from the atnos
phere aud again becoming nt for use. the sulphur
being preciptated The advocates OF lime claim that H
causes a system Of forced ventilation Lime separates
carbonic acid gas which, when present In any consider
able quantities, decreases the illuminating power.
The ammonia factory is most active in producing
the offensive odors planned Of This factory Mt the
foot OF East Twentethst There the sulphate OF ammo
mia obtained from ammonia water one OF the products
of the dstiaton OF coal 10 formed by the union OF
hydrogen with the nitrogen OF the coal Cyanogen also
ia produced by union Of nitrogen and carbon, and
these and other volatile matter separated before the
gas reaches the purifier This Is accomplished by
ing the gas through "scrubber." cylindrical vessel
charged with coke over which water trckles coming In
contact with ascending gas This takes away the
cyauogen and ammonia In the forms OF the sulphde cy
anide suphocyanide and carbOnite OF ammonia const
tuting what is known ammonia water OF gas works
The supply water used in this factory Is from
the works OF the New-York Gas Company There IL h
collected In a WELL and is drawn through an under
ground pipe into q receiver by means Of pump From
the receiver the ammonia water Is pumped u still
and the volatile matters are set by and passed
over into tank containing salphurc aclu rus acid
combines with the ammonia and sets Tree the remaining
gases which II permitted TO escape would make the at
mosphere offensive for q long distance. Last Winter
dents who said that the pungent Odors filled their eel
lars and houses 1t discovered that the offensive
gas escaped into the sewer and forced along the
drain pipes into the houses Where the drains were OF
brick the odors most offensive. Since Aug IL the
Ammonia Factory Company have been running on n
verbal permit the Board They have connected their
escape pipe with private sewer OF the New YORK Gas
Company, and complaints have since been received
Outside the district peculiar odors were no
tced Offensive Odors complained Of by inhabitants on
Madison-ave traced TO the Hunters Point petro-
Ieum works. Offensive house odors were traced 70
the williamsburgh gas works where they employ no
special means OF ventlating the purifiers Five or ak
times offensive od0rs traced to the rendering and
fertzng works the East River but the results
of the investigation show that the NewYork Ammonia
Company was the OF Of the offensive odors
in the eastern district Of the city last Winter aud the
early part Of the last Summer. and that the odors may
be controlled and the business conducted without Of
fense. ,.
sanitary Inspector Arthur Goldschmldt has made
thorough Of the gas works OF this city ana
has presented very voumnous report to the Board OF
Health Around all gas works there VIII De found an
Odor from escaping gas leakage This may Do looked
upon nuisance, WITHOUT Wnlcn tne WORKS
could not exist The streams frequently polluted by
the water and from the works, but the
chief complaint is from the purifiers There are two
methods Of publication by which the tar aud am
mouia compounds are readily extracted.