The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-18
AS TO GAS PRESSURE.
Hon. A. j. sWsopey'S PontlOp stated by
Himself.
IN tbs Esiil,, NJ he b,tsli1tRnsF

10 nc Editor 0fihS hifAt9tReeF,
sm;-It I may conclude from the read
ing Of several late articles In your own
and other papers in the city, and from ru'
mons Of statements made by some Of our
citizens, there must exist very improper
aud uniounded belief in reference to the
position occupied by myself in opposing
high pressure on any natural gas pips line
within the city limits, or near dwelling
houses. It has been asserted, and the
statement industrlously circulated, that
my course Is dictated and controlled by
the feet that Tam a stakeholder and dlrec-
tor in the Natural Gas Company Of West
Virginia. In my place in Council and on
all occasions elsewhere, have stated that
my interest in that company has nothing
whatever to do with my Opposition to high
pressure, and any man who charges that
my connection with that company or any
feeling OF opposition to what Is called the
Manufacturers Natural Gas Company
controls me is either honestly mistaken or
q wilIiul and deliberate liar,
The Natural Gas Company Of West Viz
ginia has taken no part in the matter, My
opposition TO high pressure Is because !
do not wish either to endanger the dwell
ing house and lives Of my own family nor
OF my fellow citizen, and applies to all
companies. Ono gas line passes on Main
street closely past my residence, corner OF
Sixth and Main, There Ia o sub.CellRr
which Is eighteen or twenty feet below
the street and In It q running spring OF
water; the cellar is In constant use, Dur.
ing the testing OF the pipe before filling
the trench q considerable leak existed i'm
mediately under the crossing at my corner,
A man was working at the Joint, / leaned
over the trench and asked him what he
was doing, The had in his hand piece Of
thin sheet lead about one-half an inch
wide and four or i've inches long) He
said several joints leaked on tho test just
attempted and that he was Csulking them
to make them tight, which he then went
on 10 do.
l told Mr., Branstrap about 1t, and he
said 1t was wrong, that the iron itself
should have been split aud Gaulked, !
told Mr.. Hall about It, who said the same
thing. need not name others, When
the trench was filed, come parts OF 1t we're
flooded with water, and | assert that the
safety escape pipes were trapped" and
ruined unless the water can be pumped or
blown out OF them, Mr.. James Dyson saw
this.
Mr.. Hartupeo, OF the CHARTERS Natural
Gas Company, told the Council commit
tee in Pittsburgh that the pipes them.
selves were safe Rt q very great pressure
that twenty-five pounds was safe II the
joints could be made tight and kept so /;
but that you might test line and find
every joint tight, and the changes Of tenn
perature occurring in twenty-gour hours
would show OH the next test every joint
to leak, and that II the joints leaked, Ave
pounds or any pressure would be
dangerous. Now am informed that nat.
ural gas will seek the easiest way
Of exit, and that 1t will follow running
stream, such as l think comes to the
spring in my cellar. Knowing Of the
danger OF joints leaking, even when we'll
made, and knowing that the higher the
pressure the mere gas will escape In o
given time through leak, Is it any won.
der that l oppose what | thiuk endangeIs
life aud property Mr.. Payne, Vice.
Presi ent OF the Philadelphia Natural
Gas Company, OF Pittsburgh, told us
that his company was putting In large
pipes, 50 inches diameter, In order to 70.
duCe pressure, anu yet keep up volume.
That his company was tired OF paying
damages caused from leaks under high
pressures. II there be no danger, why
do the companies put on every joint what
arc called safety escapes?' II Is
pounds Is safe, surely 10 pounds is safer.
Now about supply: Mr.. Hartupee told
US that the great Jones & Laughlin iron
works ran that entire place on s ounces.
Mr.. Joshua Rhodes told us that the Penn.
aylvania Tube Work runs on ~ ounces
Mr.. Hartupee enumerated some OF the
principal establishments, land one Of our
number kept tally showing on one line,
thirty.one manufacturing plants between
Brownstown and TemperanCtvllle, on the
South Side, commencing with Jones &
Laughlin and continuing with large glass
works and rolling mills. This line Is q 20.
inch pipe and enters the city with l2l
pouudspressure. But tCosts more money
10 lay 20-inCh than 1O.inCh, 80 1t is very
natural for company to want TO usa less
costly pipe, and furnish enough gas by
using high pressure.
1regretled very much that objection was
made to having Messrs. Finn, BroCkunler-
and Whitaker speak at the meet.
Ing Of Council. But parliament.
AIRY law is that unanimous con.
sent is necessary 10 grant the privilege
Of the floor TO those not entitled TO 1t. /
used my best efforts to have tho gentle.
men heard, and wanted to hear them.
! desire 10 repeat once for all, that
neither Capt. Bachelor, the President OF
the Natural Gas Company Of West Vir.
gtnla, nOr any officer or employee OF that
company has over taken any act or part
In opposition to the Manufacturers Com.
pany In reference 10 pressure or anything
else, 80 far as l know and believe. Let
US tx mot to exceed 10 pounds" now III It
should be found hereafter that more Is
needed, we can, II necessary, and 1t be
thought safe, increase the allowable pres.
sure; but II you now fix q high rate OF
pressure you can never reduce, even II &c.
Cldents do happen, And remember, the
city, not the company, Is primarily respon.
sible for all damages. Respectfully,
A. j. SWEENEY.