New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-12
GREAT CARE IMPERATIVE.
RULES THAT SHOULD GOVERN THE n.
PLOYMENT OF GAsFITTERs AND
PLUMBERS
DANGER OF NEGLECT IN THIS REGARD-uorD
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO THEIR MEN BIZ
OFFICIALS OF THE CONSOLIDATED
GAS COMPANY.


GAS COMPANY.
The inJuring Of six persons on Wednesday
evening by explosion OF gas in the basement
OF the four-story tenement-house AZ No. 26l
Broome-st. while a change Of service was being
made from one gas company to another brings
forcibly home to all thoughtful persons the i'm
perative need OF exercising great care In en-
ployng gashtters and plumbers at all times.
and more especially at present when the cut
rate war between rival companies Is causing
an unprecedented number OF changes in meters
and connections
The economical householder IL not going 70
be scared Of course. by this explosion absolute
~ from taking advantage OF the prevailing
cheapness OF gas. which ne can get from the
company that is now supplying him without run
ming the risk OF this danger: but II he is watch
full well economical he will 10 II that
the gas company's men who are changing his
service do their work thoroughly and carefully.
In this kind Of work hurry Is an element OF
danger and that the men Of the New-Amster-
dam company who were installing their service
in the Broome-st house were hurried Is pal
pabe The price of gas has been cut so low.
and New-York gas consumers are so shrewd
and quick to catch on" to the bitterness Of
bound to get customers at any cost hnd the
temptation strong TO save what they can In
any other direction which presents itself
This has a natural tendency toward the en-
pIoyment Of cheap and inexperienced artisans.
Because a journeyman plumber can solder
Joint II does not follow that he Is ~ TO change
the gas meters In crowded tenement-bouse
without having had special experience along
that line. He must work in dark Easements.
and hence a light is necessary. Now. green
man may not realize the absolute necessity OF
setting his candle or lamp low down That 10
inconvenient and the light is poor from that
position. The novice is likely to set II on shelf
The experienced hand would know that escaping
gas always ascends, and the candle set on high
is far more likely to cause an explosion than
the candle that is set low down.
Again. the green hand is not likely 10 take the
trouble 10 ascertain before he turns on the gas
at the meter whether all the tets In the house
have first been closed. He may not know that
by neglecting this precaution there is great
danger that some Jet was burning upstairs when
he began operations in the cellar. He shut on
the supply Of gas. and the Jet upstairs went
out" without warning. When the bungler down.
stairs has changed the meter he turns on the
gas again. and IL PUSHES upstairs through the
open Jet soon filing the room and setting the
trap for an explosion or sufocation. The
experienced gasAtter knows how to avoid that
Another great danger IL that after the new
connections are made the men. be they new or
old. are tempted TO get away as soon as pos
sible 10 another waiting job for the completion
Of which some applicant has been kicking and
expostulating for days. fearing that the war
may be settled and concessions Withdrawn be-
nd 10
scientious workmanship demands that for some
time after all connections are made and the gas
has been turned on again the meter should oe
carefully watched TO see II there is a leak any
where II this is not done the danger of
small leak having been overlooked Is great IL
may he so small that II Is impossible Of detec-
ton in five or six minutes. and yet allow a suf-
fcent amount Of gas to escape in few hours
10 blow the house to bits when some one car
ries a lamp into the cellar or strikes a match
there. as was probably done in the Brcone-st
house
Gas company officials were extremely !cath
Yesterday 10 talk about Wednesdays disaster.
At the office Of the Consolidated Gas Company.
No. Irving Place. one official YVES found, how
ever who consented TO say something about the
rigid instructions which that concern gves TO
all it's men who do this kind ~ work.
I'm the first place" said he we never allow
one man 10 go alone 70 DO such a lop. ne must
have a competent ASSISTANT In changing meters.
taking off nipples. etc. one man may slip al
critical moment and fan. or he taken sick. or be
handicapped in one OF many other unforeseen
ways which might occur. IL Is an inviolable rule
OF our company TO have the men WORK IN
couples. -.
another rule Of ours. violation ~ which
means instant discharge from our employ, IL
that the meter must be watched FOR LEAKAGE
for at least ten minutes after the gas has been
turned on. -.
Careful instruction is given our men IN the
handling Of the light by which they work our
rule is 10 have them set IL always on the noor
or mighty near H. and never 10 get In the way
OF setting the candle on any eminence where
Il may ignite escaping gas.
we would not retain any gashtter In our eni-
ploy who was careless enough 20 turn on the
gas az the meter without first seeing 10 " per-
sonaliy that all Jets were closed To 30 other
wise would be extremely culpahe. IN fact IN.
excusahle, though n entails considerable loss of
time and takes some trouble 90 inspect every
gas iet connected with each meter. Yet We IN
slst having u done 49,.
The fundamental precaution. you see, n TINS
Employ only trustworthy men ~ tried re?ua.
ton and practical experience. Any other methoo
Is sure 10 result In trouble.