National Republican., 1883-04-14
The average illuminating power was tn
of 1879 candles.


10000
The average illuminating power was that
of 1879 candles.
Dr. Antisell's report further says
Only twice have very faint traces Of hydrogen
sulphide been detected by test Of lead paper, nor
has any evidence Of ammonia been found as
sought for by red litmus; practically, therefore
both OF these substances may be considered alb
sent. But this gas is not free from sulphur ON
three separate occasions during this examination
tho percentage of sulphur exceeded the
congress- ~, in the gas Of , me city and and
especially when burned with air intermingled
through the flame, there isa very evident amout Of
aud for other reasons Il may be inferred that cy.
andes and sulpho cyanides are present, having
escaped the action of the pnrlhers.
From a comparison of the chemical composition
OF this gas, Its average specific gravity, the per.
centage Of products condcnsable by btOmlne, and
the illuminating power, II may be Inserted that
the city gas is not solely the product OF distilla.
tion of coal, but that 1t has TO moderate extent
undergone the process Of carburetting
A reporter of THE REPUBLICAN called on
DR.. Antisell last night and recalled this re-
port to his memory.
"That report" said the DOCTOR "was made
under circumstances favorable to the gas
company, and upon gas of q better quality
than the company has furnished the people of
Washington since that time. The company
knew that tho examinations would be made.
Mr.. Bailey, q clerk of the house, who is under
the pay Of the gas company, was present at
every observation and the managers of course
were on their good behavior. / repeat, they
furnished better quality of gas for these
observations than any they have supplied us
since"
Now DOCTOR" said tho reporter, "We
want you to translate any scientific terms in
your analysis into popular language. To be-
gin with, what is carburettingp
1t is, popularity rendered, the blowing of
nd 0NTrh I'D Nku al, l.t.l I'd
becoming charged with naphtha or benzine
vapors is delivered into the public gasometer
and allowed to mix with tho gas This, of
course, diminishes the value Of the coal gas.
Thirty-three per cent of the gas furnished is
thus nothing but air which holds the naphtha
while it is warm When it is cold IL deposits
the naphtha in the bends of tho pipes, and it
is blown out at the apertures."
=" Have they the right TO do this ?"
"Ot course not. BY doing so they have
forfeited their charter, which should be taken
away from them. The act of congress grant
ing them charter expressly provides that
they shall furnish gas distilled from coal, and
not atmospheric air charged with benzine.
The temptation to do this latter may be ap-
precated when you reflect that the air thus
furnished, one part to two Of real gas, is all
clear profit. Air costs nothing. When sold
for 50 per 1000 cubic feet, it yields an enor-
nous income, the supply being limitless The
trouble is tho gas company is under control
of nobody-apd is responsible only to con-
gress. They claim to have influence with
congress-"
"You say there is sulphur in the gas in
your report. How does 1t occur?"
In the shape of sulphurous acid"
=" Is that deleteriousY
Highly so. A greater danger, however,
is from the presence of cyanogen and its COM
pounds-cyanides and sulpho.cyanides Cyan
ogen is the basis of prussic acid"
what is pure gas"
well, in every one hundred parts gas
should contain of marsh gas, carbon, and hy-
drogen, s0.l0 parts; Of the olefnes, 3.73; of
carbon monoxide, o parts moisture air, &C.,
parts, Or 07S3 parts, the rest being other
matters. The carbon and hydrogen form the
bulk of the gas, the carbon monoxide gives it
its bluo tiame, and tho oleiine vapors its brill
liant white light. The introduction of am
monia, sulphur, &c, vltiates the air and is
deleterious to the health"
Leaving out the deleterious qualities,
how much pure gas is furnished in every 100
cubic feet?"
About 90 feet, 80 or "a being air charged
with naphtha Are you aware that tho gas
company have q manufactory in Georgetown
where they mako naphthaine and other
products? Now, q gas company should do
nothing but furnish gas. They are chartered
for that purpose and not for other manuiac-
lures, Nor are they chartered to furnish air
instead of coal gas"
zone question more. The report of the in
spector Of gas and meters for March says that
sulphurated hydrogen was present in the gas
every day. Is that gus injurious?"
Highly so, Of course, and its presence is
an indication of bad gas"
Tho report of the gas inspector for the
month ending March "a shows the highest illu.
mluating power Of gas made was 1870 can
dies, and for only five days was it at or about
1S candle-power; for ten days it was below
II, the lowest reached being 1888. There were
from "a to l.23 grains of ammonia in each
100 cubic feet, the mean number being 90
The sulphur present averaged from S,73 grains
per 100 feet TO 1870, the average being 1888,
and the noxious sulphuretted hydrogen was
present every day. IL is probable from this
showing that the Washington Gas (alleged)
Light company might safely challenge any
other company in the world to furnish a worse
or more nosome quality of gas to its helpless
patrons than it can do.