New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-22
TO MAKE % CENTGAS SOON
FEW TESTS IN THE CITY.
End of Lighting Inquiry Is Near
Experts Disagree.

cents thousand cubic feet, ana that wren inc
company is using its great new plant at Astoria
the cost viii be cut down 10 about % cents.
DR.. z. G. Love. city chemist testified that no
tests of the companies gas made in any borough
except Manhattan. and here only twice year
1ae said tests were made once week before con-
soidation. but that money has been appropriat-
ed for proper tests for some years.
The committee is nearly through with its inquiry.
No session viii be held to-day. Next week. IL the
committee IN making up its report. needs a miss
ing link" in the chain testimony will summon
the particular witness needed for examination at
the ONCE OF Mr.. Hughes. its counsel
Professor Charles F. Chandler. OF Columbia Uni
versty. was called early in yesterdays session. as
a witness for the gas company. 10 contradict the
findings OF Professor Hallock. Of the same nstitu-
lion. to the quality of gas sold in Manhattan
lie gave his testimony if delivering lecture to
a class IN chemistry. lie said Professor Halloek
had used an instrument which is absolutely unre
liable. and the results OF which fallacious.
why then. did you have il put up in your lab
oratory at Columbia University" asked Senator
Page.
7 don't remember IT, II we have IT. we have it
as a curiosity. and not for any useful purpose
the reply.
'.wiH you kindly give your own Opinion?'
asked Chairman stevens
My opinion is the gas photometre is not a right
measure, and it is absolutely unreliable for any
investigation for the purpose OF determining
whether the gas complies with the standard"
GAS PRESSURE AND CANDLE POWER
Professor Chandler said the quality OF the gas
burned does not depend on the pressure Tabu-
latng Professor Hallocks results. ne said he found
tho poorest gas. 1873 candle power. had the same
pressure as the 2l-candle gas.
1t is not, then the purpose OF DR.. Hallock's
testimony 10 show the company intends 10 increase
us pressure when there is low candle power? asked
AIR. Mathewson, the gas companys attorney
He merely showed the fact There is no reason
fOr going beyond the testimony 10 make a charge
against the company, nor is thers any reason for
exculpating the company" said Mr.. Hughes.
There is nothing in ali that talk OF pressure
There is only one way 10 find the value OF gas
and that is to determine its Illuminating power in
candles. We buy the gas for light" said Professor
Chandler
''Can you make an is or Is candle power gas and
subject il to sufficient pressure 10 produce an IL
luminant that will be in fact 2o-cande power gas?"
nc was asked.
no" he replied.
Professor Chandler produced some burners which,
he declared. would do away with all complaints Of
bad gas The Consolidated Company, he said, gave
away three million of them last year and except
where too much demand was made oldtme
service pipes. the gas had proved satisfactory. The
ordinary consumer he said, cannot tell a difference
OF TWO or three candle power in his ilumina ton.
The common use Of electricity. he said makes
people believe their gas is poor.
Professor Halock recalled. said that In the tests
he had made for the committee he had used the
Jet phOtometer only secondary standard and for
huctuation IN gas only, but not for candle power
lie described various efforts he had made with Others
10 obtain an accurate standard Of illumination. He
reiterated that when the candle power OF gas was
low the pressure high.
Then you are wholly unaffected by anything
Professor Chandler has said?" he asked.
That is true"
GAS MADE NOW AT SO CENTS.
II was in the afternoon that William Bradley
took the stand tell about The various pressures
maintained the different stations throughout
a5Tr~
Mr.. Bradley said the cost varied in the different
stations He gave SO cents the approximate
cost Of 1000 cubic feet OF gas il the 44th-st plant
When We get the Astoria plant in fair opera
uon," he said. I'VE shall be able to make gas from
lour 10 i've cents cheaper than II is made to-day"
He said he thought . cents about the figure that
would be reached one Of the reasons why gas
can he made cheaper in Astoria. besides the use
recovery OF 6produci that never before has been
recovered by any gas company
the tests he made in January last Since January
$50, he SAID, he had tested the gas Of the dif-
ferent companies ar least once a week. No tests
had been msde IN any borough but Manhattan
We have no testing stations anywhere elseI
DR.. James A Bennett treasurer OF the consol,-
mated, was recalled 70 tell when he acquired the
Il was bought in various lots AZ Sifferent tines f
total OF S.d2s y so lie could not give the dates
or me purchases nor the amounts bought at time
a6arsT Of the ATster r3iIe''[ ana general
was recalled 10 tell how his company acquired the
stock OF the Cntral Union company. He said it was
ork and East River Gas cGmpany q The the e Hs%
Union acquired the stock Of the Northern Union
company some time in 1881. L was acquired al par
Walter 2. Addicks vioe-president of the Con-
request Of Nj Mathewson. counsel for the com
2 oo s H5jts cost win o BE- he sal SAID $SS @
100000 units viii be 100000
Asked how #. was that the Central Union Com
pany could make gas al Is cents for l0G0 cubic
feet against IS cents for 1000 cubic feet by the
Consolidated Gas Company. he said the Northern
company was better situated for dsposng TO
It was the intention OF 3Ir Hughes to examine
the officials OF several independent gas and electric
men hand. Senator Stevens therefore.
declared the session adjourned subject 10 the call
asked opportunity 10 put into the record part Of
lively exchange Of words, Chairman Stevens re-
convened the committee for half an hour after
O'Clock J. ". Ldeb. jr.. explained why il is that
the Edison company is obliged TO insist its
neR tRnrp i 9GSed bg Mrs Ieb was that the
city establish meter INSPECTION bureau;
1t probably would be equally as good, as the
gas meter inspection bureau" said Chairman
Stevens.
Chairman Stevens said last evening:
Il may be that tho committee may feel that it
IS necessary 10 hold another public session. but
rests largely with the suggestion Of the counsel
lnittee viii hold coninuoug daily executive sessions
the Fifth Avenue Hotel until the latter part OF
the week. We hope that by Friday al the latest
We win be able 10 present 10 the legislature re-
port what we have accomplished. accompanied
with recommendation as 10 what deem ought
70 fe done 10 give relief 20 users OF gas in New
feel that ought 10 say at this time that the
attitude OF the various companies toward in
Every facility has been offered - rs by the officers
Of The several companies most under investigation.
- BOOK The inguiry i- any way They have not
objected % The most risid examination OF their