The sun., 1889-03-31
THE SUBWAY BLOWOUT
where Docs tho Gas in tho Streets Como
From and who 10 TO Blame for the Leaks

|
From and who 10 TO Blame for tho LeakS
There appears to be not only variety OF
opinions as to tho precise cause OF the recent
blowout or explosion in Broadway. near Twen-
ty-third street. but also some doubt as tn
whether such things can be prevented. From
the first there has been good deal Of trouble
with gas In the subways. and there Is no doubt
| that this gaB comes from the mains Of the tllu-
minating gas companies. 1t has been imposs-
Bile to work In the manholes OF the subway
without using an apparatus to pump In fresh
air and pump out foul mir Besides this there
is a great air pump kept going at Thirty sixth
street. which is intended to keep the subway
clear OF gas down to Fourteenth street. The
scheme OF construction comprehends similar
pumps or fans at other points along the line.
ChiefEn gineer Kearney OF the Board Of Elec-
trical Control says this about 1t: 1T is we'll
known that the gas companies lose about one
third OF their product by leakage These gas
mains have some OF them. been In the ground
| thirty or forty years: some OF them have rusted
away so that they will not hold together. The
| companies appear to think that 1t is not to
their interest to replace all those mains. 1t ap-
pears that their capital is largely invested in
them. Indeed. the largest amount OF their
capital is so invested in these old mains.
Tho sewers Of the city are always full OF
Illuminating gas. and there have been many
caused by workmen cleaning the sewers. But
the sewers have the advantage OF running
Snd the rue IS 10
lighted match down before man is sent down.
Neglect of this precauti3n often causes acoi-
been killed in this way IN the last ten years.
Ny explanation OF the explosion at Twen-
ard Gas Company laid mains through that
street in very hasty manner. to say the least.
posed si to lie secured by screw caps. SO One @ Of
esesea ee
Sna hSt IN fh HSnue HSs
the greatest wonder that there was not an ex
rapiay into the the basement Of Of one Of the stores
Hoy this leak has bssn
the u s1o6 here ri Of that locality
the covers q TIE subway and Gd Of
o the ourons
i ou. had TheS w0k a
Twenty:third street. and got up to Twenty:
n % he snT Of sp5
Mss e se uad gGs ;Se i
mains near this explosion, and we have notified
one. have seen the workman oi Q gas com
pany tearing up the street in half dozen
places to find one leak. These gas leaks are a
great nuisance and they must be stopped In
some way. They have caused great trouble |
and expense to US In building the subway. |
The work Of searching for a leak Is extensive. |
and where different companies have their pipes |
near together each Is willing to let the other |
search for a leak That is the cause OF delay. |
We have had trouble With the steam company. |
too whose leaky pipes have In some places |
heated up the air OF the ubway to 200o. The |
steam company has promised to- repair the |
leaks In their pipes as soon as possible"
Electrical Expert s. s. Wheeler said: There |
was no electric spark In tho subway to ignite |
the gas. That is certain. because there WAS |
no current on We have now 100000 worth OF |
cables In the subway. and they are being CON
neeted as fast us possible.
Commissioner Gibbens Is convinced that the
gas leakage amounts to at least one third OF
lie health and safety are much endangered by
with the atmosphere.
: Among the gas companies however, the Of
fcials laugh at the idea OF such large amount
as ne-third OF their product going to leakage
They say they are not doing business In that
way: that they are only too eager to repair
leaks and. instead Of neglecting one would
rather pay reward for Its discovery: that the
careless excavation Qf the streets where the
gas pipes are buried causes a good deal OF
breakage OF pipes and Leakage and that wher-
ever they can find a leak they repair 1t prompt
ly. President Smith and Superintendent Zol-
llcoffer OF the Consolidated Company both said
that the estimate Of one-thfrd waste OF gas Is
altogether too high.