The morning times., 1896-03-18
HEARD MUCH ABOUT GAS
Continued from Eighth Page.

1T is only necessary 10 take this subject
up directly as TO these various costs. the
cost OF coal. the cost OF oil, the cost OF la
bor and the erection of these plants, and
then what. it costs this company other
wise TO operate the plant, in order to dis
cover what the COST is to IL. IL has TO
pay taxes IL has to make its annual bet
terments. II has 10 keep itself abreast of
The improvements II is perfectly right
that this company should be expected to
keep Itself in touch with the very best
that our profession affords; that its works
should be abreast with what is known to-
day as .the best practice. Congress has the
right TO insist that they shall do that.
But it is right also that Congress should
treat This company ia a liberal manner,
permitting Ito have the means with which
10 do these things.
HE STUDIED THE PLANT.
Il have studied this plant of tue Wash
ington Gaslight Company for a nun ber Of
years. i have seen il grow from very
small proportions. / know that IL has al
ways been the ambit ion OF the II management
OF this company TO be in the forefront,
not only as regards the character OF its
apparatus, bet also as regards the char
acter or light furnished, and the treatment
OF the general public.
MIR. George McIlheuny, who was for
many years chief engineer. and after wards
the president and engineer OF this company.
WAS one of the most distinguished men in
our profession, and n gentleman OF rare
ability. This company was the pride and
ambition CT that mans useful lire. There
was nothing known III our profession that
MAS not had III this company Nothing
ex istel else vii ere tha L he did not have when
We were ma king nothing but coal gas.
When we began 10 make use or The OIL
process. Mr.. McIlhenny was one of the
first gentlemen in the field to take up the
subject and carefully study it. He met,
step by yeStep ,-all the advances in our pro-
fesSion, until when these new works were
built ne embodied In that last plant, as
monument to him. the very latest and best
ideas or cur profession. 1t is one of The
finest plants in the United States, and
when | 81 : that j mean the world: for we
are as much ahead OF our foreign friends
in gas plants as we are III railroads. Mr..
McIlhenny left here. at the time of his
death, p'7ut which l am frank TO say
"This company can make and does make
rs lHc gas as any company in the world.
Tie fact that there is a trifling difference
between tite Illuminating power OF the
gas in New Y crk city ana the gas in Wash
mgtOn Is SO iTlillng that 1t Is simply not
worth talking about In other words, If
you IiN the illuminating power at Z 4, as
suggested by Prof. Love, this company
would be making it equal TO 20 or 20 1-2.
as = matter OF safety.
CONSUMPTION IN SUMMER.
This gas made by the Washington Gas
light Company has to be burned In
southern city. where. during a large part
of the year, the windows and doors are
open, and your llame is subject to draughts.
II you ioICe this company TO make high
CandiepoweT Sas-that is, for instance.
II yOu make II 20 candles-it would be / m
possible Tor the gas TO he burned III this
CITY. Every ceiling and every frcsco in
The town would be smoked up inside OF
thirty days IL such gas were burned
here. That is one of the things which you
consideration
question: which as an absolutely local
one. Every one Of these questions must be
treated from its -oWn local standpoint.
\ on can simply use what IS being done
elsewhere rs a precedent and guide: but
yOu must always CC<ne back TO what is
fair. and reasonable right here in Wash
ingtOn.
y Go not know that / cen say anything
more upon tie subject, because il has
recu rene over SO thoroughly. 1t has
been discussed in all its various phases.
ana II lCacf.CS his one conclusion and
that is. whether Tie price OF one dollar
viii CEablc Ills company 10 go OH and do
its business in tie bIOad ana liberal man
ucr which company or its magnitude
should do.
''Of course Trey can sell gas at a dollar, If
thiSt DHEIt.s says they must: but it means
the immediate cutting down Of the wages
or employees, tie cutting out OF every
man they can IoSsihiy do without; il means
hardship al along Tie line. The wages of
the clerks must be reduced. They must
buy materials OF q lower grade. When
extensions are made, Trey win be made
In q more penurious way.
CRIPP LING EN- TERPRISE.