Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-02

The Requirements OF the LAw-The
Laboratory Of the Inspector Hero
What His Reports Show, Etc.

The act or Congress prescribing the quality OF
gas to be supplied In the District was approved
June 23d, 1874. 1t requires that the illuminating
power shall be equal to sixteen candles by the
Bunsen photemeter, using the English parliament
ary standard Argand burner having fifteen holes
and a seven-inch chimney. consuming nve cubic
feet OF gas per hour; and such gas shall not con-
tain more than 20 grains Of sulphur in any form In
100 cubic feet, nor more than grains OF ammonia
In any form In 100 cubic feet: that when the gas
1als below this standard, either in Illuminating
power or purity, the fact shall be reported by the
gas inspector TO TIE gas companies, who shall be
subject to penalty OF $780, to be recovered by the
proper tribunal and paid into the District treasury
Tor each and every day during which such viola
tion shall continue. 1t is then provided. however,
that II It shall appear that such deviation from
the above-named standards could not have been
occasioned by some unavoidable cause. then the
said penalty shall not be enforced" The appoint
ment OF suitable and competent person as in
spector of gas and meters Is provided for and the
Washington 6aslight company to At up Tor him a
laboratory In the central part OF the city, at dis
tance as near as may be Of 1900 feet from the gas
works. and the cost charged to the gas compa nies
OF the District. The average Illuminating power
bills, and II it falls below sixteen candles, the
amount OF the bill shall be reduced pro rata
THE LABORATORY
OF the gas inspector OF Washington Is pronounced
the finest and most complete In this country.
Indeed. man OF long experience in the gas busi-
ness In London, who was here not long ago, said
1t was the finest IN the world. Every appliance
for the thorough testing Of gas is provided. A
STAR reporter who visited the laboratory about
noon was shown the method OF testing the illumi-
mating powers by DR.. Ford, the inspector, and
a 1876 candle light, and 1t must be remembered
that during the day the pressure is lightened
Inspector; Ford kept daily record of the tests,
entering In books provided for the purpose the
Illuminating power, the pressure to the inch, the
quantity of sulphur and ammonia in the gas and
are open to the Inspection Of every citizen. They
show that during the present year, with the ex-
ceptlon OF few days in January, the daily illumi
mating power has been UP to, and the average, for
each month above that required by law.
EXCESS OF AMMONIA.
During April, from the 9Th to the 18th there
was gradual daily increase of ammonia In the
gas until the last-named day, when 1t went up to
81 grains. This was one-tenth Of a grain in ex-
cess OF the limit prescribed by law, and the fact
was that day reported to the company. On the
18th the quantity OF ammonia per 100 cubic feet
fell back within the limit and Kept within lawful
bounds until the oath, when it jumped up to S.07,
Immediately notified. and on the 18th the proper
ton OF ammonia dropped to 395 grains per 100
cubic feet. and on the e8th to 2. grains With
the exception OF the two days named the ammonia
was below the legal limit, and for the month the
average was far less than five grains For March
the average was ST OF grain, scarcely more than
nall grain In each 100 cubic feet
IN THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE GAS INSPECTOR
the number OF days In the fiscal year and the
dates On which the gas fell below standard in any
respect are recorded. His report for the fiscal
year 1882 shows that on eighteen occasions the
gas was below 16-candle power, the lowest point
1t reached being 1449. On twelve occasions that
year an excess OF ammonia was reported and on
hve there was more sulphur than allowed by the
prescribed standard These reports have been
printed containing the facts and gures OF the gas
company's failure to comply With the Law, yet no
notlce mas ever been taken OF them hitherto.
WHAT THE GAS COMPANY CLAIMS
1t is said, in behalf Of the gas company, that it
can no doubt be shown that the excess of ammo
MIA In two days last month proceeded from some
accidental or unexpected cause, and that in
promptly correcting the defect the company met
the requirement OF the law. The average gas fur
n1shed during the month, 1t is claimed was better
than the standard 1xed, and also that the records
snow that 1t is the custom OF the company to keep
above standard and to rarely fall below IL.
The Civil Service COnnml lsslOn.