Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-06
ALL THE CONSUMERS FAULT.
Says Secretary Scott, In Reference to the
Fluctuation of Natural Gas.

Says Secretary Scott, In Reference to the
Fluotuation of Natural Gas.
"What causes the great amount Of vari-
alton in the natural gas pressure?" was
asked of Secretary Scott, of the Natural
Gas Company Of West Virginia, yesterday
afternoon.
"There is no variation in the pres
sure" was the reply. "The trouble is all
with tine consumers. am glad you have
asked the question, for il gives me an
opportunity TO make an explanation which
will be of great benefit, not only to the
public, but to the gas company. In the
first place, the average domestic consumer
of gas burns too much Of the fuel. am
now speaking strictly from the standpoint
of the consumer himself. Only a certain
amount Of gas can be burned in CRATE,
and that amount is generally q good deal
less than the full capacity Of the valve in
the supply pipe. When the valve is thrown
wide open, from cne-third to one-fourth Of
the gas escapes up the chimney without
undergoing combustion, and a good deal Of
heat from the remainder pAsses of the
same way, without performing any appre-
ciable amount Of good in sffording warmth
to the apartment. The result is q great
drain on the pipe line of the company,
without any corresponding benefit 70 the
consumer"
'Bnt how does that operate to bring
about the trouble complained oi?"
81 was coming to that. It's Just this
way. The family get up in the morning,
perhaps fiud the house a little chilly,
from having turned down the fires the
night before, and all the gas valves are
thrown wide open. There are twenty
thousand fires on our lines in this city
aud vicinity, and the result is that the
mains OF the company are taxed TO the
utmost. The drain continues all day, and
by evening, when the family have all
gathered in, the discovery is made that
the house is as much too warm ss it was
too cool in the morning. What's the re.
suit. Every consumer shuts of his gas
TO the extent Of third or so, and az the
gas, which has been pouring into the
mains full tilt TO keep up the supply,
begins to bank up. the pressure in
creases. In the words Of the consumer
who kicks, the gas comes on We do
what We can to remedy this, by decreasing
the pressure about two ounces every even
ing, restoring it again In the morning.
bot it only has a tendency to correct the
evil. The remedy is in the hands Of the
public"
"What is your adsice?"
"Just this: In the first place, don't use
too much gas. Keep the blaze about OF the
top of the bricks in the CRATE, and keep in
plenty Of brick. They will get red hot,
and rsdiate more heat into the room in one
minute than a great mass of blaze and un-
consumed gas passing up the chimney will
in ten. Tnen the consumer ought to keep
his house at an even temperature. A little
watchfulness and regulation will show just
about what amount Of gas will give the
best result aud then, by adhering TO the
new policy, much trouble will be obvi-
ated."
But" persisted the reporter, don't
some of the increased pressure in the even
ings, about which there is 80 much COM
plant, come from manufacturers shutting
off gas"
mo, cir. There are no manufacturers
on our lines, except you can c,ll the water
works and the erematory such. The
trouble is right where l have located it,
and if care is exerci'ed by the consumers
it will be obviated, and benefit will accrue
all aroubd