Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-01-05

WHENCE Is THIS NOXlOUs ODoR.
Complaints About the Gas-F0ul Odors and
Poison m the Bed ChamDsr-Gas that
In the Meter and ON
tho Gas lslll.
In many parts Of the city last evening
there was loud complaint about the in
sufficiency Of tho light furnished by tho
gas. the foul odors arising from its con-
sumption, and the suffOcating and pain
iul sensations occasiOped by its inhalation.
At iirst many persons thought it was the
suiphurous fumes from coal, until it was
discovered to be such a general source Of
complaint and from quarters wbcrc il
could not have been occasioned by stoves
or furnaces. Some of the stores in Centre
Square were obliged to open their doors
10 the beating snow storm, and in soma
rooms in the Stevens house, INrEIIIoES-
GER Office, and other large buildings, the
stencil and pervading gases were too in.
tolerable to be borne with safety. In
quiries set on foot to discover the causes
OF this state Of affairs develop various
theories
DR.. Greenc's Opinion.
For the lNTELLIaENCER.
Since the onsOlidatiOn Of the two gas
companies Of our city, the people who
have taken any observation have noticed
that at times the gas is very feeble, large
portion of the flame BLUSH, in other words
the gas is much poorer made than before
this unfortunate event occurred. 1t is far
hot for oil
ing factions or companies in all lines Of
manufacture Or for other purposes. Oppo-
sition keeps down tho price Of the COM
modify or thing. and keeps up the quality.
MonOpOlies make poorer article and
charge exorbitant prices. SD it has been
since the creation of men. The gas OF
Lancaster has become ut times exceedingly
poor, and the price has already made an
| advance of 10 per cent. The reduction
that prompt payers heretofore received il
| thin" Of the past.
| MEPHITIC ODORs.
With the attempt Of the present orsani-
| zation to make Us much gas rs possible at
the least expense (nOt to the consumer but
to the manufacturer), two decided evils
have become apparent. First, the enfce-
blcd Pickering injurious to the eve and,
second, the passage through the burner Of
of mephitic poisonous, nOn-inflammable
gases that arc exceedingly dangerous to the
consumer rs well rs expensive. The chem
istry Of the formation of Illuminating
gases, how they should bo made and how
dispensed to the public, is study only
known to the thorough student of chemis-
try, and to give anything like fair ex-
PLANTATION Of these processes will occupy
more space than | propose to occupy at
present but, sir, if you desire, will in
future communication present some of the
most important portions Of properly
prepared disqnisitiOn on these subjects.
Within the last week it has beel observed
| by scores Of persons in our city that ut
| night their premises have been full of q
| singularly unpleasant tasting and smell
ing gas, leaving in the mouth metallic,
| cOppery taste, and producing various un-
pleasant symptoms Oh various individuals.
On one severe headache, on others diff
Guilty in respiration, Oh others sore eyes.
So exceedingly unpleasant has it been
that the gas has been extinguished and
candles substituted in portions of the
Stevens house and in other places where it
was found to have proceeded from the
gas pipes. At first many were led
to look for the gases as coming
stoves or furnaces, but closer inspection
soon found the author Of all these annoy
aces coming out ofthe burner. Ono thing
is most certain: badly constructed gases
have been generated and allowed to pass
into the main gasometers and dispensed to
the consumers. 1t may be caused in many
ways, 4 portion of which I'll briefly speci-
fy: IL the purifiers containing lime are not
in order the above results will take place.
If the rctOrts arc out Of order, or tho
materials to gasify are poor, it will occur
OF, if there is Il large amount Of iron py-
rites, known rs sulphuret of iron in the
coal. the sulphur will pass into the atmOs-
phere in some form. My present belief,
without any critical examination, il, that
the gas which is above referred to, contains
formic acid If not, most assuretlly car
bOnic acid, OR carbOnic Oxyde gas, all OF
which are exceedingly dangerous cOmpan-
ions in sleeping apartment.
Yours respectfully,
G. A. GREENE, NJ. ID.
ADDENDUM, January 5,
STEVENS HOUSE.
find the air this morning Overcharged
with the mephitic vapOrs same metallic
taste in the mouth. A number have sOro
throats. Have made few scientific
tests
1. ! find that one, at least, Of the escap-
in. non-inflammable gases is very light,
very subtle, and escapes even in the day
time from the gas pipes.
2. have made several tests for SULPHUR
Gus fumes and find them very perceptible.
l saturated paper in a solution of acetate
OF lead, called by some sugar of lead, made
up by the union of acetic acid and lead.
Holding it above the gas jet it quickly be-
came brown, showing that large quanti-
ty Of sulphur was suspended in the gas
the lead having 4 greater affinity for tho
sulphur than the acetic. acid Immediately
formed sulphatc of lead.
Tho Gas Company's ExpianatiOn!
A representative Of the INTELLIGENCER
called ut the Office of the gas company
this morning and stated to Mr.. John H.
Baumgartlner tho fact that there have
been many complaints for some days past
as to the quality Of the gas. Mr.. Baum.
gardner replied that he knew a portion Of
the gas furnished for q few days past was
quality and explained that the
cause Of it was an accident that
happened ut the old morks on Monday.
The cover Of one Of the purifiers was ac-
cilently broken while wOrkmen were en-
gagged in removing the ice from it, and it
was impossible for some time to repair it;
and until it was repaired pure gas could
not be manufactured. The repairs have
been completed and pure gas is now be-
ing manufactured. 1t is probable, how
ever, that the impurified gas now in
kI,c pnoinS Of tho olsl rorLa ~,ov oo,,en