New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-16
THE GAS NEW WORKERS USE.
ELEMENTS OF DANGER WHICH ARE IN
HERENT IN 1T.
WATER GAS MORE POISONOUS THAN opal CAS-
AND FUEL GAS THE WORST OF ALI-How
EXPLOSIONS OCCUR II THE sUBwAYS-
AN OFFENSIVE DOOR NECESSARY

EXPLOSIONS OCCUR III THE sUBwAY5-
AN OFFENSIVE DOOR NECESSARY.
The suggestion that some of the recent cases OF
alleged suicide and supposed incerdiarism nave
haan the result OF the accidental leakage OF nlum-
roti,p gas has aroused considerable interest among
citv officials and others. and has mad the erect OF
warning the community against the DANGER VI
leaving gas tets turned low at night. or any otner
time lest they may be put out allowing the poison
ous fluid TO escape and endanger lie The gas
,ou, in common use Is called water gas. although
perhaps a fifth CT the gas consumed IN ths city IS
the shloned coal gas. IL IL admitted on al
hands that water gas is more dangerous thah coal
gas not only because n is heavier ana therefore
rerds to sink rather than rise. but also because 1t
contains a larger percentage VI "'A'0"' 0
oxide and carDonic acid.
The water gas is cheaper than coal gas In that
statement Is comprised the reason why the COM
panies prefer to deliver water gas TO their Gus
TONER'S but In spite Of the chedpening OF the proc
ess Of manufacture. they have never shown de-
sire "a divide their increased profits with the pub
ltc nv giving them gas lower price Al the
time waterngas first came into use ntteeh OF
twenty Vars ago. there was widespread appreheh-
sion regarding the additional danger to consumers,
and in many houses extra precautions were taken
TO prevent gaspipes from leaking
WHAT PRESIDENT WILSON SAYS
When spoken TO on this subject yesterday Presi-
Il was not a matter TO which the Department had
given any special attention although some watch
was kept by tho chemist OF the Department on the
quality OF gas supplied TO people IN the CITY tx
posons had been frequent in the suoWays' put ne
had never heard OF an explosion in gas MAN, and
did not believe that one could happen III such d
Mace because gas and air had 10 be mingled in
certain proportions 10 make them explosive Wnp
the right proportions were had an explosive fhlA'-
ure resulted tina, would be set OF by spark OF
flame In the last five years there had been hi'y
such explosions in the subways, occasioned By the
collection of gas in vaults below the manholes.
which In some way became ignted. He supposed
that the recent explosion in the big subway II
Boston was caused in some such manner
AS 10 the possibility that people believed to have
committed suicide had inhaled gas that escaped by
inadvertence Mr.. Wilson said that he would not
cara 70 express an opinion in the absence OF knowl-
edge of all the facts in any particular case OUT ne
admitted that a person found dead from inhaIing
gas in a room the windows OF which we're open
could hardly be accused OF taking MS own IKE.
He Eel, the same way In reference 10 hres aleseu
10 be the work OF hrobugs when they might have
been due TO escaping gas accidentally ignlteu, ana
said that an examination Of the special crcum-
stances In any case would be needed before 'ai'
tudgmen. could be rendered
In reference TO fuel gas called. President VIII
son declared that he would regard its use In the
CITY az excessively dangerous, because u gave on
room its presence could not be detected None OF
this was used here yet, although d company
had endeavored TO get franchise from the Board
OF Aldermen so that 1t could lay pipes In the
streets II this gas were used, MI wilson SAID
the manufacturers should be required TO put in Il
ingredients that would give ii a strons odor
A TALK WITH DR. MARTIN.
Further information on the question was OBJ
tanned from DR. Edward W. Martin. chemist OF the
Iau
manufactured in New-York" he said. is about
thrty-ave million feet daily There are three kinds
Of gas made here-Water gas coal gas and Plntsch
gas BY far the largest quantity Is water gas
which forms about 30 per cent Of the total Oh the
Pntsch gas the daily production is about four hun
An analysis OF the water gas SHOWS 1t TO De mac
up follows: Carbenc acid $40 per cent hvdra
gen 90 10; marsh gas (which furnishes good paEt
OF he illuminating aHaty} les So earbonfc acid and
carbonc oxide and its specinc gravity IS Sons'v
erably less. 1t therefore tends 10 rise; snS 50 and
the like Gas escaping an Gpe9 tsroSah the
room has tenaenGy IN, 10 ,h isw governing gases
on account Of the odor ts Presen,s Il, rsaI wing
ected II . possible tao S safi sscapng gas
and be reported as suicide out hav cnr r9 per
sona knowledge that such cases nave .and miles
of gas mains varying in size from six 20 forty
eight Inches Some Of these nays % ,sr condition
unless disturbed 20 as 10 sag or have thesr post
lions changed Cast-iron pipes are less likely 10
panies estimate that 10 per cent OF their Ptouue. -
lost through leakage and that u inw here is
ittle danger OF its being put out through ohansS
Of m the mains tdr ne h greater the
sure the greater the quantity OF gas los' where
'n.rs are are about nfteep hundred miles Of sub
ways In New-York. and In them large nunve ~
explosions have occurred from the coheO'0" VI S"'