Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-01

Mr. Skinner-Is 1t not true that the
tendency is nowadays to regulate also
high motive electric currents by putting
them under ground and in other ways. to
make them safer?
Mr.. FOrstall-If putting them under
ground makes them safer. yes
Mr. Skinner say. is not that the tend
ency today to do that?
Mr. Forstall-Yes.
Mr.. Skinner-Do you not know that
there are regulations generally, and in
the city Of Washington, to regulate the
sale Of poisons?
Nj Forstail-I presume there are; there
are in all cities I know Of
Mr.. Skinner-You are aware that Con-
gress has passed law regulating the
use of adulterated foods?
Mr.. Forstall-Yes
MIR. Skinner-The tendency is to regu-
late them. is it not?
Mr.. Forstall-The tendency is to regu-
late everything just at present.
Mr.. Skinner-One other question. If the
limit in this bill were raised to 20
per cent monOXide, what effect would
that have?
Mr.. Taylor-Do you mean what effect it
would have upon the gas, or upon the
business?
Mr.. Skinner-I mean upon the company.
Mr.. Forstall-Twenty per cent would
leave them just about where they are
now. / think the percentage of carbon
monoxide in the gas runs along about 81.
Mr.. Skinner-Well, one other question.
Analyses have shown the carbon monox-
ide has run higher than 30. What per-
centage Of coal gas would you think was
in that?
Mr.. Forstall-Higher than 30? I would
not say there was any percentage Of coal
gas; l would say there was q large error
in the analysis.
Mr.. skinner-That is question for
others to decide.
Mr.. Forstall-You asked me what 1
should say.
Mr.. Skinner-You have not answered the
question about the effect on the COM
pany.
Just About the Same.
Mr.. ForstalI-I said it would leave them
just about the same.
Mr.. Skinner-That would mean that
they could supply about 80 per cent.
Mr.. Forstall-They are supplying so per
cent now, with an average Of 20 per cent
of carbon monoxide in the gas.
Mr.. Skinner-No. but if the limit were
put at 20 per cent?
Mr.. Forstall-I say it would leave them
in about their present position, because
they are now supplying gas which av-
erages about u per cent, as l understand
it, Of carbon monoxide.
Mr.. Skinner-Carbureted water gas
runs about how much?
Mr.. Skinner-We will assume 30 be-
cause ! think the authorities pay about
that. If it ran 30 and they used so. 1t
would give them "a to start with. How
much do you say coal gas runs?
Mr.. Forstall-Five to 8; should say is
an average.
Mr.. Skinner-That would make. it IA,
twice that. 20 times. That would give an
average of IA. Assuming that it was
always 50 per cent and you said that it
n q
Mr.. Forstall-Yes.
Mr.. Skinner-Then if it ran SO. and 1t
We're raised to 80 would not that indicate
that the ANALYSES were correct, from what
you have already testified?
Mr.. Forstall-No, do not think that the
carbureted water gas of the candlepOwer
that the Washington Gas Light Company
must make to have their average candle
80 per cent of carbon monoXide in it. l
do not see how it could have 80 per cent
Of carbon mOnOXide in it.
Mr.. Sknner-What would water gas
have if it were straight water gas?
Mr.. Forstall-It might run up as high
as 10.
Mr.. Skinner-Any higher than 40?
Mr.. F'orstall-You can make it higher
than 40 by making ii in laboratory, but
as you make it practically it would not.
A Question of Bills.
Mr.. Skinner-The point / want to bring
out. Mr.. Chairman. 1 want to ask him how
much. if the bill were ~aised to 20 per
cent, the gas company would go out of
business, and if it were raised to 20 per
cent how much water gas they could use
then?
Mr. Moore-I would like to ask, and
1t is the final question, so that we can
close this morning session in pleasant
frame of mind. will you tell me how.
when chemical experts fall out, ordi-
nary legislators can best protect the
consumer in this. and also the public?
Mr.. Forstall-By following the advice
OF the men who are practically acquaint-
ed with the business of the distribution
of gas. Great laughter)
MIR. Evan II. Tucker-Are you familiar
enough with conditions in the District
of Columbia to state how much more. if
1T would cost more, it would take to
make a straight coal gas of twenty-five
and distribute it than it
does to make and distribute the present
mixed gas?
Mr.. Forstall-I cannot say how much
more it would cost, Mr. Tucker. but all
my experience has shown that it costs
more per candlepower to make a straight
coal gas than it does to make a straight
carbureted water gas, mixture, so
if you were going to make the same can
diepower in each gas, there is no ques-
ton that the coal gas would cost more.
Mr.. Tucker-You could not give any
figures?
Mr. Forstall-I would have to work
week on it before I would have figures
that would be satisfactory to myself
Mr. II. B. Shaw-Mr. Forstall quoted
some figures in regard to the rate of
deatE in Chicago for a certain time, as l
understand it, when coal gas was used,
the figures being 4.3 per 100000, and an
other period when water gas was used the
deaths were "a per 100000. 1 would like
to ask MIN. may it not be possible that
that is accounted for by the people be-
coming more familiar with the usage of
gas in general. by better appliances being
provided, better gas fittings, and by the
fact that the population has increased
in greater ratio than the amount of gas
has increased: also by the fact that cleo
tricity has superseded the use of gas to
some extent: Those are lot of ques-
same principle.
The Use of Gas.
Mr.. Forstall-If the population of Chi
cage had not been increasing SO rapidly
by reason Of the people coming into ii
from the country, it is entirely possible
that there would have been better
knowledge of the use of gas. 1t might
have decreased the rate of deaths from
gas poisoning but the conditions were,
I do not think it had any effect l think
that the influx of population which was
not accustomed to gas more than fully
made up for the increase of knowledge
on the part OF the population that was
there. AS far any decrease in the
amount of gas used in proportion to the
number of population is concerned. dur