Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-18

now. You must bear In mind that the
company must carry the power a margin
above that. 1t viii have to run 1t up to Is
Senator Gallinger-You think that would
give the best results?
Mr.. Love-It would not give as much
light as a 3O-candle gas, but with a 80
candle gas the consumer would be very
much annoyed with smoke. think the
best practical result would be obtained by
"a or 25-candle gas.
Senator McMilian-Here in Washington q
great many people complain of poor lights.
Ia that because of the old pipes in the
houses being rusted and not in proper con-
dft1on, or what is the trouble?
.Mr Love-i have not examined that.
Senator McMiHan-You have had expert
ence in It?
Mr.. Love-It is very common COM
plant. I have found. in certain cases,
that there was deficiency of pressure.
burner 1t is very essential that he has
more pressure than If he uses an Argand
burner. I have investigated this matter
to some extent in New York, and I have
found that the pipes may be small or they
may be rusted. and, in great many cases,
the burners themselves are very defective
l understand the gas company puts in
burners for the consumers in order to OBJ
viate that here. That is a very common
practice in New York. In fact they gen.
orally do try to satisfy the consumers by
giving them burners. II the house was
improperly piped when it was built or the
pipes are small, or they become INSTRUCTED
in any way, no matter what pressure the
gaS company puts on, you cannot get gas
through the burner to give light.
Mr.. McMillan's Pipe.
Senator McMillan-That was my expe-
rience in my stable and the back part Of
my house. They were not lighted prop
erly. and yet the gas in the front part of
the house seemed to be all right. 1 had
an examination made and finally they dug
down and found the pipe was very small.
1t had been put in there by Mr.. Gait wnen
he built the house, and 1t was probably
adequate for him. with one or two horses.
but when 1 bought the house l needed
more light there in the stable to wash car
riages. etc. l put in a new pipe, and fixed
1t up and then had just good light in
the back as I did in the front part of the
house. l have been wondering whether
that is not the trouble with a great many
of those who complain about the quality
of the light.
Mr.. Iove-That Is very common source
of complaint.
Mr.. Winship-Before you sit down, Mr..
Love, will you allow me to ask you how
high candle power gas 1t is possible to
make with pure coal gas?
Mr.. LOve-Csing coal alone?
Mr.. Winship-Using coal alone: the best
qualities of camel and the best qualities
of Youghiogheny.
Mr.. Love-Do you speak Of the best it
Is possible to make?
Mr.. Winship-For ordinary use.
Mr.. Love-If you were going to make
candles was a good standard. but, of
course. you can make it thirty candles.
Nobody would. however. want to use it.
Mr.. Winship-l am talking about ordinary
CcmmC rcial gas.
Mr.. Love-Yes.
Senator Faulkner-I would like to know
why they could not make as good gas in
Washington AS they do in New York. The
proposition here is to give us twenty-four
candle power by that burner.
Mr.. Love--As I have already stated. the
average III New York for the first two
months of this year was twenty-six candle.
You would get, perhaps, twenty-five candle.
and no man on earth can tell the differen re
between the two in the illumination.
Senator Faulkner-That would give
good practical light?
Mr.. Love--It would give a good light In
addition to that you have very rigid
test here. Outside of New York l do not
know OF any city where they have SO rigid
test In Boston they do not make more
than hfty-tWo tests year. once-a-week
test. but in Washington you have a daily
test, the same as we have in New York
Mr.. McIlhenny-We have Captain White
Of New York here.
Senator McMillan-We uld like to hear
what Captain White has to say.
Mr.. McIlhenny-Hc is an expert of ma
t!onal reputation.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of the
committee: The ground has been so thor
cughly covered in this matter that it seems
to me to be almost useless to take up your
time with any further discussion of it.
L understand now that we are to address
ourselves only to this bill with reference
to making the price Of gas one dollar per
thousand. The question of competing gas
companies has already been considered
Senator Nc Millan-That mas been dis
posed of for the present.
Mr.. White-As lave sat here this after
noon, and at other times, listening to all
this talk before the committee, it seems
to me to be marvellous how, year after
year, the Senate and House give up their
time to listen to this same old story, and
hear about the same old coon up the same
cid tree. time after time. 1t is a very
serious matter for the gas company, how
ever, that the Senate and House can be
constantly reached by these gentlemen who
beautifully they can make gas by some
process which the rest of US do not know
anything about, and how very cheap it can
be made.
THE result of this is found in the hill,
which is before you for consideration
asking that this Company be required to
reduce the price of gas to 81 per 900.
ana increasing its Illuminating power about
absolute technical knowledge on the part
OF the committee on this subject
Now. gentlemen. hole that it is impos.
sible for the Washington Gas Light Com
pany to make gas and sell it in the city
OF Washington and make a reasonable
profit upon 1t at 81 per LOCO Washing
ton is city which is peculiarly situated
1t pays more than the usual prices for ali
Its materials. 1t is paying very liberal
wages. 1t is a peculiar city in many re-
spects. Washington, after all, may lie
looked upon somewhat in the light of our
large summer resort cities on the eastern
coast. This city does a large business
While Congress is in session. A great MANY
people are here, the hotels are filled The
boarding houses are running over, and the
stores are doing more or less business
incident to this crowd. They concentra te
IN that part Of the year great portion of
their business.
Caring for the Plant,
But so far as the Washington Gas Lieht
Company Is concerned. the rest of the city
has to be cared for just the same during
the remainder Of the year. This three hun
bred miles Of pipe has to be laid and cared
Tor. SO that everybody around the outer
edges of the city can be supplied with gas
me standard here must be kept equally
good during the remainder of the wear.
Inere Is no letting down in the quality Of
the gas during the slack period. EVERY
thing has to be run at the same high pres-
sure. Pe
1T was argued, gentlemen, before the