The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-22

pany namely leakage" 1 will briefly
consider. If there is a loss of 80 per
cent. through leakage, between the
wells and the city who should be re-
sponsible for this loss, the company
which supplies it or the consumers?
Why should the consumer be required
to pay that loss when he derives no
benefit from it? If gas can be supplied
at so cents per 1000 feet with a leak
age of 80 ger cent. why cannot it be
furnished fer 80 cents per 1000 with
out any leakage? Especially when it
does not cost them anything.
From the favorable statements puo-
liShed Of the great economy there was
in using gas to which was added the
cleanliness of the system as well as
other commendable features, many Of
the patrons spared no expense in hav-
ing as perfect an installment as could
be got, and felt that they were con-
mencing a new era in domestic life
that would enlarge the sum of social
comfort. But to their chagrin and dis
appointment, they have found them
se-ves the victims of misplaced conf
dence and instead eff being cheaper
than other fuel it cost nearly double,
| in cold weather, what it would cost in
coal and oil for like service
There is arother matter intimately
/, mands attention, namely, the sanitary
conditions attending the use of
natural gas, as it is now used in our
city. AS noticed in the preceding
para ra oh, the gas company publish
ed a very fattering showing, that in
point of economy gas was much cheap
er than any other fuel, for heating,
lighting, and cooking purposes. The
economy Of this subject has been
dwelt upon. But it need be referred
to under the sanitary division of the
subject
There is one method of using the
natural gas that would justify the
company in assuring the public that
it is cheaper for all purposes for which
1t IS recommended, and that is to burn
the gas in open jets and allow all the
heat thus generated to diffuse itself
through the space designed to be heat
ed. But this method is open to very
serious objections. To make these OBJ
Jectlons plain 1t Is necessary to state
the sanitary conditions existing when
gas is used by the method referred
to. 2 Natural gas consists mostly of
marsh gas, which when burned pro-
duces large quantity of carbon di-
oxide and also of water which is very
unhealthful and even dangerous. The
reasons given are plain and simple
The combustion of a sufficient quantity
OF gas for the purposes needed require
such quantity of oxygen to support
combustion that the air is impoversh-
ed of that element to such an extent
that it is rendered extremely unhealth-
full to remain any length of time, and
inhale such vitiated atmosphere. The
! condition of the air in apartments
thus heated can be determined by a
very simple experiment Light a
kerosene lamp in such a chamber, and
as the air in the room becomes more
impure the lamp will burn more dimly,
! after a while it will begin to flicker,
and ultimately when the air becomes
heavily charged with the noxious
carbon di5xide and carbon monoxida
gases it will go out and the person
who will make this experiment will
during that time become painfully con-
WINGED that this method to secure
cheapness is economy outraged. His
| disturbed pulse and aching head will
! warn him of his danger.
There is another method by which
natural gas can be used with all these
unfavorable conditions eliminated
This method requires that the noxious
gases evolved in the process of COM
bustion be carried off by means of
/ conducting hoods and pipes into flues
[
| ing in which such gas is used. In
| adopting this only safe method large
| per centage of the heat generated
| passes Off without doing any service
either than leaving the health condi-
tons of the apartments unimpaired.
! To make I'D fer this loss of heat it
will be necessaryisto provide a large
J radiating capacity in the heaters
which will involve the consumption of
a larger amount Of gas. This will in
crease the nsesVconsiderable above
| the cost Of coal and coal oil consumed
to produce equal results.
| II the gas company refuses to hold
! the conditions of the franchise in
! violate, and the corporation of Salt
Lake city will permit the company to
| raise the price, it will subject a large
number of consumers to great losses,
! without any, apparent chance for re-
! dress. Such result will be unfortun-
i ate for both the company and the
public. -
I If reduction in domestic labor and
/ cleanliness is of prime consideration,
| coupled with the comfort of the house
| hold. and expense is not a factor to
/ be taken into account, I would I'M
| hesitatingly commend the use OF
natural gas.
1 If confirmation is needed to establish
confidence in the statements here made
! upon the sanitary character of the
two methods employed in the use of
natural gas, such confirmation can be
obtained by referring to Professor j.
T. Kingsbury of the university or any
other analytical chemist who is in
possession of the data required. Many
| of the gas consumers are OF
the opinion that if the natura
/ gas company has decided to
| withdraw from the conditions of
the present franchise that they ought
to surrender the franchise into the
! hands of the city corporation and pub
| lish their action in the premises