The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-19
COLUMBIA MAN AT GAS QUIZ.
PROF. HALLETT TELLS or TESTS
At THE UNIVERSITY.

/ AElh tul 10 SHOW luNN NAlRlN IuNfF Is
AHected by Pressure on the Mains.
but Has TO ADMIT That He Used
the Jet Phot1meter, Now Discarded.
Prof. William Hallett Of the department
Of physics Of Columbia University was
put on the stand at the gas investigation
in the City Hall yesterday afternoon by
Chief Inquisitor Hughes, for whom he had
made a series Of tests concerning pressure
and candle power.
Beginning March 70 Prof. Hallett had
taken the candle power and the pressure Of
the gas furnished TO the university at
various hours every day, up to April o.
He testified that these tests showed that
the candle power was affected by the pres
sure on the mains--that is, II the lighting
quality Of the gas was poor the deficiency
in Illuminating power could be made up by
increased pressure at the expense of higher
bills to the consumers. His readings
showed that the candle power at the lowest
points ranged from IS TO POS and the pres
sure from 20 to 80 inches.
what effect does nincrea~e in pressure
and a falling of in the quality Of the gas
have on the consumer asked Mr. Hughas
Would not he have to burn more gas TO
get the same amount Of Illumination"
He would" was the answer.
In other words, he would have 70 pay
more money for the same servicc?"
Exactly"
Prof Hallett took % candle gas as his
standard and presented chart showing
the alleged increase consumers have TO
pay when the quality falls below that point.
He estimated that at 1875 candle-power
the consumer had to pay So for the same
amount of illumination that Is furnished
for 81 with the candle-power at p. At 10
candles he said a consumer would be pay
ing at the rate Of sL75 o. 81.
In answer TO Mr. HuRhes's questions he
said he didn't mean that the consumers
were actually paying IS thousand for
gas when the candle-power was only 1875,
but that they would have 70 pay that
amount II they got the fun illumination Of
% candles As a matter Of fact, none Of
Prof Halletts tests showed less CANDLE
power than Is.
The testimony Of this witness was lis
tened to with amazement by the officials
and attorneys Of the lighting combine. 1t
was plain that they had no knowledge that
he was to be put upon the stand.
we should have been advised that the
committee was going into this phase OF
the question said Lawyer Mathewson,
so that we could also be able to put in
expert testimony as to the conclusions
drawn by Prof. Hallett"
Mr. Mathewson got the witness to read
the maximum oandle-power records in his
table, also the pressure at the tune each
reading was taken. From these figures
II was shown that the pressure was often
lowest when the candle-poWer was highest,
which seemed to be a direct contradiction
Of the theory put forth by Prof Hallett
that pressure was used to boost along the
lighting power
What standard OF measurement did you
use in making these testsY- asked Mr..
Mathewson.
THE jet photometer replied the witness.
promptly, whereupon the gas men present
doubled up with mirth When the COM
mittee was making tour Of the gas plants
on Sunday, one Of the things they saw
was jet photometer in the Twenty-frst
street station In explaining it's workings
Vioe-President Addicks told the guests
that it was 50 thoroughly unreliable that
Il was no longer considered az a true stand
ard Of measurement. having been super
ttltfl tNtI y NIltIb 10y lllt btiI lIblOUltltIs
And you think the jet photometer is a
proper and accurate instrument Of meas
urement do you?" asked Mr. Mathewson.
Il do, replied the professor, sobcrly.
DO you know OF any State in the Union
or city in any State where 1t is recognized
as the official standard Of testing the can
die power Of gas'-
Il do not
Il notice that you used q candle
| power as your standard Of COMPARISON
/ Don't you know that the legal standard
/ in this city Ia 20 candesf'
L was under the impression that il was
"a"
did you make these tests yoursef?-
i made from one-fourth to one-half Of
! them
! 'Who made the restl'
My assistant"
How long has he been connected with
! Columbian"
Net quite a year
The records OF the candle power Of the
gas as made at the works and by the official
! light examiner Of the city were produced.
! and they showed a marked difference from
the records made by Prof Hallstt. The
/ official tests are made by the bar photo
meter.
William II. Bradley, the Father Of Water
Cas- and the chief engineer Of the Cen
solidated company, testified at length az
TO the pressure use in various parts Of the
| city. Records were produced from the
West llith street station showing that the
| pressure varied from 30 TO IS inches.
! Mr.. Bradley said It was physically i'm
/ possible to maintain uniform pressure
! at all times in any district Of the city and
! that no machine or contrivanoe had yet
been invented that would 40 regulate it.
! He said he had full charge Of the regulation
: Of the pressure, and that he had never re-
/ ceiVed an order from any official OF the
/ company or any one else TO increase the
| pressure with view Of forcing gas through
the meters and thus making the bills OF the
consumers larger.