Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-05
Complaint Made That Washington
IlIuminant is Inferior.
THE COMPANY OFFICIALS EXPLAIN
Consumers Institute Comparisons
to Sustain Their Protest.
QUESTION OF CANDLE POWER

Numerous complaints have been made
lately about the poor quality OF gas with
VI tich householders are being supplied. The
greatest complaint seems to be In regard
to the smokiness. though others have been
n ade about the seeming lack of the IL
Eliminating substance. In many cases citi-
zens have found it necessary to repaint or
repaper their residence, the walls and cell
ings having become so soot-blackened by
the gas that the renovation was absolutely
necessary.
Secretary Orme of the Washington Gas
Company was seen today by Star re-
porter, in regard to the complaints. He
said that the cause Of the smoky quality of
the gas, if such a condition existed, was
traceable to Congress in requiring stand
ard of twenty-five candle power gas, which,
he claimed, was much more certain to
cause smoke than gas Of a lower standard.
When asked if the company would en-
deavor to have this restriction removed.
he stated that it would not, preferring to
let things remain as they are.
IF We could give gas of an eighteen or
twenty candle power standard for the min
inum." he said, lit would be much bet
ter"
Equal to Any Other.
At the same time he claimed that the gas
in Washington was equal to that in any
city in the country, If not of better quality.
Secretary Orme said that just at this
season of the year what was known techni-
cally as dry stoppage'' caused complaints
to be sent to the gas office. He then turned
the reporter over to General Superinten-
dent Leetch Of the company. The dry
stoppage," Mr.. Leetch said, was the result
just now of the transition from warm
weather to cold, causing condensation in
tHxxr tod hot doc boz hon
was of poor quality. The condensation
causes a fiakey white substance which
chokeS up the pipes.
Superintendent Leetch stated further that
a lower pressure was in vogue here than in
any other city, which may explain why the
gas burns SO low at times, though he did
not intend this Interpretation to be taken.
His explanation was that II higher pres
sure was used the consumers would COM
plain that too much gas came from the
meters, and they would be forced TO pay
for it. Mr.. Leetch was indignant that any
aspersions should be cast upon the COM
pany of which he is superintendent, and
said that the company did more for this
city in the country.
DIR. S. Calvert Ford, United States In
spector of gas in the District of Columbia,
was seen by The Star reporter. He said,
straight coal of Is or 20 candles power
would be better than what Is used at the
present. When asked what he meant by
straight" coal ne said that the gas manu-
featured here now is partly water gas, the
mixture being about in equal proportions.
He said that water gas is cheaper, but
added that three-fourthS of the gas in the
country is made with it,
DIR. Ford Explains.
Water gas, he explained is made by pass
ing superheated or dry steam through a
generator charged with fuel raised to a
state of ircandescence by air blasts. These
are intermittent. When they are shut off
steam is admitted with the Oil and the oper-
alton repeated. The richer the gas, he said,
the more apt ii is to be smoky. The smoke
is caused by carbon. he said, and there is
none in cheap gas.
DR.. Ford said that the gas company was
required to have a standard of % candle
power, and that when it fell below that
quality, an average being taken daily at
the three stations, the company should pay
500 forfeit. This happened ten times, he
said, last year. but he acknowledged that
the money was not paid once. There is a
clause in the stipulation which states that
the penalty Is not collectible when the fall
ing below the standard cannot be prevent
ed, and this was taken advantage of. He
stated that in his annual report before the
last made to the Commissioners he had
complained of sulphurated hydrogen in the
gas, but since then the gas had been free
from it, He declared that the reports
showed tnat tue gas was above the stand
ard OF the % candle power required by law.
Objections by Consumers.
While the officials of the gas company,
by using technical terms and their own re-
ports, strive to prove that the gas Is of
excellent quality, the fact remains that
many of the consumers in the city bear
direct testimony to its deterioration. Many
Of them say that the gas is SO bad at
night that at times they can hardly read
by 1t, and that they are thinking seriously
OF adopting some other means of illumina-
tlon. The gas company people assert when
the gas dies down to the illuminating quail
lily OF candle, that the burner Is out of
gear. This is deemed poor explanation
wren oco asionally the gas Is fairly good
coming from exactly the same burners
AS to the change from warm weather to
cool, 1t is claimed by some of the con-
sinners who have been in the city all sum-
mer that exactly the same condition of
smoky gas and insufficient quantity existed
all through the season as 1t does now.
With gas at $1.10 thousand feet it has
been suggested that Washington should
have the best in the country, and con-
sGmerS cannot understand why such is not
the case. The company claims that it has
the latest improved plant with which to
manufacture the gas, and why they do
not furnish 1t seems to be perplexing the
residents in the city. Those who are suffi-
GENTLY expert in the matter say that
Philadelphia, with its gas at 81 a thousand
Feet, has much better illumination than
Washington at much higher rate.
Your credit is good at Lansburgh's Fur
niture House. 18th and F streets-Advt.
THE MOTION OVERRULED.