Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-30
Resort to Minor Changes.
Ammonia and Sulphur,

temporary ones, due to unavoidable acci-
dents.'
Ammonia and Sulphur.
According to the report, the average
amount of ammonia found in 100 feet of gas
at the central laboratory was 13-1OOths Of
of one grain. The highest amount found
was 90 grains. On ninety-seven occa-
sions the test showed no ammonia present.
The average amount of ammonia found in
100 feet of gas at the southeast laboratory
was 1.19 grains. The highest amount found
was 5.5S grains on November 9 1903. This
was the only time during the year when
the test in any laboratory showed more
than the legal limit of five grains in lUD
feet. On nineteen occasions the test in
this laboratory showed no ammonia pres
ent.
Theaverage amount of sulphur in any form
found in the gas at the central laboratory
vas $50 grains in 100 feet. The largest
amount found was 1872 grains and the
smallest was 3.32 grains. The average
amount of sulphur found IN the gas at the
southeast laboratory was 6.95 grains in 100
feet The largest amount was 1913 grains
and the smallest 81 grains.
Al no time during the year, says the IN
spector, did the gas supplied by the Wash
irgton Gas Light Company contain more
than the legal limit of twenty grains N
100 feet. On twenty-five occasions sui
phureted hydrogen was found in the gas
supplied by the Washington Gas Light
company. nineteen or tneSe Qe1aultS &C
Cured in January. and were traced to a
defective valve in the purifying house.
Illuminating Power.
Continuing, in his report Inspector Run
yam says:
Three hundred official photometric tests
of the gas supplied by the Georgetown Gas
Light Company were made in the labora-
tory at 1926 32d street northwest, with a
,t,,af ine ~ icfa do rI
candles, which is LA candles above the
legal requirement The maximum was 1861
candles, and the minimum 1880 candles.
On twenty-one occasions during the year
the candle power fell below the legal re-
quirement of 22.O0 candles. The average
amount of ammonia found in 100 feet of
gas supplied by the Georgetown Gas Light
Company was 74-1OO2of grain. The largest
amount was 4.3S grains. On twenty-one oc
casions the test showed no ammonia pres
ent At no time during the year did the
test in this laboratory show ammonia pres
ent in excess of the legal limit of five
grains in 100 feet.
1.-THE mean amount of sulphur in any
form found in the Georgetown gas was
SO grains in 100 feet. The maximum
amount found was pa grains, on March
"a. 1904 This was the only time during
the year that the total sulphur exceeded
the legal limit of 20 grains in 100 feet. The
minimum amount of sulphur found was 507
grains.
Presence of Sulphureted Hydrogen.
..rests for sulphureted hydrogen showed
this Objectionable compound present in
sixty-six occasions during the year. The
fault seemed to be in the limited capacity
of the purifying department of the works.
To remedy this defect the company In the
latter part of the winter made arrange
ments to practically double the purifying
capacity but the new purifiers were not
completely installed and ready FOR use pc
fore the end of the fiscal year. 1t Is be-
Ieyed that the purifying department as
now equipped will be able to remove the
last trace OF the sulphureted hydrogen
from the gas.
With reference to the gas supplied by
the two companies the report states:
The gas supplied by the Washington
Gas Light Company Is mixture OF coai
gas and water gas while that supplied by
the Georgetown Gas Light Company Is a
coal gas enriched with naphtha. The gas
supplied by both companies was of good
quality and up to the statutory require
ments. with the exceptions noted in this
report
During the past year this Office in
| spected and proved SAC gas meters for
| the Washington and Georgetown Gas
the District of Columbia. OF this number
2.766 were new meters 1905 repaired
| meters and 1,67s complaint meters.
Result of Tests.
Nine hundred and three of the COM
plant meters were tested at the request
| of the Washington Gas Light Company;
| of this number 81 were found correct, 10
we're fast-average error, 4.26 per cent;
| 562 were slow-average error, 24.24 per
cent; and $40 failed to register any of the
gas passing through them.
Seven hundred and twenty-nine COM
p!aint meters were tested at the request
| OF consumers in Washington. with the
result that $40 were found correct, 264
were fast-average error, sos per cent;
and 65 were slow-average error, 4.6S per
cent.
ION complaint of consumers in George
town IS meters were tested or this num-
| Der 13 were found fast-average error.
| $50 per cent; one was 1888 per cent slow
and 33 were found correct. One meter
was tested by request Of the Georgetown
Gas Light Company and proved to be 10
| per cent fast.
"Of the 9O4 complaint meters tested at
| the request Of the gas companies u. or
232 per cent. were correct: IL, or 1.22 per
cent. were fast; 582, or GAIT per cent,