New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28

g., .b,. n,s,nas. tw.ntv wears. almost 20 a day. and
IL there IS any one In New-York who KNOWS al
about the gas furnished by the different companies
ne must be The man.
Mr. Love might he described as Man W however
characterization. Strange as IT may seen' dur
ing the score OF years he has been employed 10
analvze Illuminating gas keep watch on its quality
and make record OF the pressures maintained ne
has never taken a vacation at the city ; expense
Whenever ne has gone away hs has provided a
substitute and paid him out OF his own pocket
A. a rule ne doesn't 20 away. bur once he made
a trip 10 Europe and stayed three months. Mr..
Love IS nor required TO give all hts time 10 the
city BY profession be Is an analytical chemist
and In addition 10 his public duties he does labor
atory work on his own account THIS was me
Arrangement made with him by Allan Campbell
Public Works Commissioner. ID h'r ana u hds
never been disturbed since
Il was AT the beginning II Apr IN the year
named that Mr. Love began 20 do work tor the
city Before that time the city officials had 10 take
The word of the gas companies as 10 the sort or
gas they were furnishing. This led 20 a dispute
between the companies and Andrew H. Green
WHEN Mr. Green was Controller Mr.. Green ayowed
that the gas supplied not as good AS that
called for bv the contract but be could not prove
H. The outcome of the dispute Wis tle appoint
rnent % a competent man 10 test the sa5 ana
hold the companies mp 10 the mark. This man was
Edward q Love ile has two ofhces-one ~
Graud-st and the Rowory. into which gas from
five OF tho makers is received. and the other In
Seventy-ninth--t. whore the product OF four other
concerns Is examined. In addition. he has row
ing commission as respects the gas used on the
other side n the Harlem River. and occasionally
goes up there with portable photometer % see
whethe- the aarlemitos have sufficient illu-
mination.
on Manhattan Island I'D The gas is watched and
examined constantly a slf-recordius apparatus
is employed t0 determine th, pressure. photo
metric tests are made every day to see whether
the candle-power is al right and there ar" FREE
quent chemical analyses. 10 mirht De supposed
that the companies would furnish ar their own
cost the gas needed 20 enable these tests and ex-
periments 10 be carried on but that IS not the
case. Each company has a meter IN NJ Loves
Offices and every foot Of gas used is paid for The
city is thus entirely INDEPENDENT OF the sas COM
panies.
ALL GAS IS DANGEROUS
In answer 10 some questions suggested by ar,l-
cles recently published In The Tribune on The gas
question. Mr. Love said. There is no douh- that
the water gas now generally used ga thi- CITY Is
mere dangerous than coal gas which was formerly
used hecaus4 % contains larger percentage OF
carboni oxide But no gas was meant % be
hreatnod ana 40 gas b. dangerous when taken into
the lungs 90 Is easier for one 20 Doe drowned In
q lake than n % tub OF water bur f. is possible TO
be drowned in a tub Of water That. perhaps,
fairly represents the difference between water gas
and coal gae Tho great protection against gas IS
the smell That instantly apprisea one Of The pres
ence Of danger
1T IS mistake 10 suppose thar gas is heavier
than air There has not been case iu long
time when he specific gravity OF any gas In the
city has been as much 80 taking air 100
OF course carbonic acid is heavier tnau air. but
any gas when set free tends dinuse itself through
tho air in accordance with the law OF the DIFF
fusion Of gases The tendency OF escaping illumi-
mating gas therefore is 10 collect at the TOP Of
room There is no such thing as gas forming in
strata. with the heaviest 40 the bottom II 10 did
so. tnen thc small percentage Of Carbonic acid gas
ln fht atmosphere would constantly form layer
next the partn and thc other gases that make up
tie air would range themselves on top OF II IN
layers according 20 their weight Instead OF mat,
they are a mixed together.
There Is doubt that odOrless fuel gas as
o. Is called. is exceedingly dangerous ana GER
tainly no such sas should be- used ~ the city
give ~ strong odor ~ d ttLri or I.itl IL , b..
want the fIe gas under any citcumstances The
great claim made fCr 10 i8 mat N can Dc rold TOR
- cents a thousand. But II Illuminating gas were
sold a. 81 a thousand 10 would be economy for tho
people 10 use n for heating ana cooking ~ pref.
fuel gas there are 800 heat units. IN cubic foot
% Illuminating gas there are from 61 20 10 heat
units so the advantage j. Clearly on me side ~
the latter et - thousand.
NO MORE MAINS SHOULD BE LAID.
Il do not believe there should be any more com
panies authorized TO tear up the streets to lay
gas pipes ON any preence. IL Is my conviction that
II onA company supplied the entire city win gaa,