The Washington times., 1908-12-31
Investigation Shows Four
Recent Deaths Were Due
to Interior Supply.
PRESIDENT GETS
REPORT IN FULL
Scientist Says Illuminant Should
Be Used Only With Venti-
latOrS in Stoves.
On a startling report from chem

On a startling report from chem
iSt experts of the Department Of
Agriculture tending to show that the
Washington GaSlight Company is
now Furnishing an inferior quality
Of gas to the people Of Washington
gas that reekS with deadly carbon
mOnOxide fumeS-DiStTiCt Attorney
Baker, at the instance of Attorney
General Bonaparte, has begun a
secret investigation of that COM
pany'S gas supply.
Prosecutions may follow the rigid
investigation of the District Attor-
ney, who is confronted with the
fact that within the last two months
four persons have met deaths in
their homes as the result Of a su-
perabundance of carbon mOnOxide.
These persons are Mrs. Helen K.
Bremerman, Mrs. Hebe Cuts Brem-
erman, and baby Cuts Bremen
man, all Of one family, and William
MCGOWAN.
Inferior Gas Furnished.
Although the report of the Govern
ment chemists, Prof W. W. skinner and
Dr- John X Haywood, has not been
made public, II Is known that It win
show that the gas now being furnish
cd I'm Washington homes t. largely a
water gas OF cheap and inferior quail
ity, which contains az least - per cent
carbon monoxide. and that but a small
Per cent Of It is "COal gas which is OF
better quality and which would CON
tain at most only from TO per cent
of the poisonous fumes.
An official OF the Washington Gas
Light Company has admitted on more
than one occasion to Elmer Runyon.
gas Inspector for the District. that 50
per cent OF the gas made by the c1sm-
rany IS made from water There Is at
present no legislation preventing such
a thing.
Investigation Follows Tragedy.
Following the Bremerman tragedy.
Chief Chemist Esirvey w. Wiley a.
signed PrOfs. Skinner and HAYWOOD 10
make an investigation Of the gas ques-
tion In Washington. This report was
submitted TO Dr. Wiley. who In turn
transmitted il TO Secretary Wilson. So
important We're its disclosures that the
Secretary forwarded il to President
Roosevelt. Attorney General Bonaparte
next examined It's contents and II land
ed in the hands OF District ATTORNEY
Baker, who has begun uUiet IuyeSri-
cation Of the entire matter
No more ssathing arraignment Of the
quality OF the gas which the TUOple OF
Washington are now compelled to use
could be obtained than the simple state
ment made today by one Of those IA
miliar with the contents of the report.
He said:
Under no circumstances would I al
low the use in my home Of gas stove
or heater consuming such gas Unless
there was every facility for ventilation
and unless the stove had a hue TO the
open air. It's use in a closed room is
dangerous
Commissioners to Act.
tt is known that the Commissioners
Of the District, in view Of the Coroner
report on the Bremerman deaths. are
now seriously considering asking for
legislation at the hands Of Congress shat
viii provide for a regular and rigid in
spection OF gas heaters and the manner
and quality Of the gas supply.
In Boston the use Of water gas'' IS
only permitted IN conjunction with mu-
nicipal inspection or this character.
European cities, IN the main, abSO-
lutely prohibit the use of the inferior
water gas" In this country, so cx-
perts state, there is a tendency on tfe
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