The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

question before US H5S WHetheI MI
Thomas should ask questions. should IN
terrogate witnesses Shall We proceed.
+ gentlemen?
Mr.. Sims-Are you ready now to have
questions asked, Mr.. Forstal. or have
you not finished your statement?
NJ. Forstall-I have Just about two or
three minutes more
Mr.. Tayior-Proceed. then. For the
benefit Of Mr.. Thomas would say that
the question he has raised is a proper
one, and We want you here. In fact, the
committee would consider II eminently
proper that you should be mere as well
as any one representing the gas COM
psnies, and any private citizens who have
questions to ask that are proper are at
liberty 70 ask them at the proper time.
Mr.. Moore-You have never been denied
that privilege?
Mr.. Thomas-No. have not been denied
anything.
Mr.. Forstall-On page Il Of the printed
report Of the hearing Of January q be-
fore this committee there is what pur-
ports 20 be instructions TO inspectors of
factories In Great Britain, and Quota
ton from an editorial comment from a
report Of the Chemical Board OF Trade of
London / think II ought 10 be made
clear that both those and this comment
do not refer to the distribution by the gas
company OF carburetted water gas. but
refer 10 the production IN factories Of
either blue water gas or producer gas.
which is produced IN the factory and
used right on the premises. There is a
great deal OF that being done. both in
this country and In Europe IN manufac-
turing communities. and these reguls-
tons were gotten up TO cover that par
ticulaT activity.
I want 70 make a correction TO my
answer 10 the chairmsn's question yes
terday as to whether was interested in
any gas company. stated I was inter-
ested In a small gas company in Penn
sylvania, and ] forgot that also owned
some stock OF the Consolidated Gas, Elec-
trio Light and Power Company Of Bal
timore. That is the extent Of my interest
In gas companies. That interest was so
small. the amount Of the stock was so
small. that I forgot all about it yeSter-
day. think that finishes Up what had
70 say, Mr.. Chairman.
Mr. TaylOT-I think now II any member
OF The committee has any questions 10
ask. they should be asked before others
iDterrosate the witness.
Mr.. Sims-YOu are the chairman Of the
committee Have You anything 20 ask?
Mr.. TayiOT-NO. have nothing to ask.
Mr.. Sims-I would Ike 10 ask Mr..
Forstah several questions You are per-
sonally acquainted with the Washington
Gas COmpanys plant. are you. or nOt7
Mr.. Forstsll-No. sir: 7 was az one Of
the plants Of the Washington company In
1901. That Is the only time I have been
to either OF them
Mr.. Sims-What DO you think. from
your knowledge. if yen have sufficient
knowledge TO have an opinion. II would
cost the company 10 change their plant
so as 10 manufacture exclusively coal gas
or gas containing not 10 exceed 10 per
cent Of carbon monoxiGe2
Mr.. ForstsH-To manufacture exclu-
siveiy coal gas?
Mr. Sims-Yes
Mr. Forstali-From the statements that
have been made 20 the effect that It
would be necessary 70 construct an en-
| tirely new plant. that on the present
location Of the works there is not sufi-
Gent ground 70 erect a coal gas plan.-
because the committee should understand
that i takes about three 20 four times
as much ground for a coal gas plant OF
a given capacity as Il does for a car
bUretJed water gas plant Of a given ca
I pacity-
Mr.. Sin1s-Tou do not state that OF your
own personal knowledge?
Mr.. Forstail-Nu. II that condition OF
affairs exists. that new land would have
/ TO be acquired and an entirely new plant
/ would have 10 be built. which Is reason
I able, from the fact that they are now
averaging only - Per cent Of coal gas,
il would cost nearer Se0.eso.oo0 than the
si6oo0.0oe mentioned BY Mr.. McIIhenny
/ yesterday.
Mr. Sims-I did not know but what yOI
had been working on this. and knew
about IL
Mr.. Forstall-No: have been working
entirely on these statistics.
/ Mr.. Sims-I want 70 ask you II il IS
! possible, BY any means whatever, 10 re-
I duce the probabilities Of accident. OF
/ death, or injury 10 health. in using car
4 bUretted water gas. TO a level. or to an
I amount not exceeding that which would
! be expected OF would occur in the use
/ OF coal Eas7
Mr.. Forstali-I think that in practice
they are on a level now That is the
practical effect Of the statistics that
7 have quoted. It seems TO me to be that
/ they are on level row, as far as danger
! is concerned. Now. TO reduce the danger
]
/ thing that can be done. and would sug-
/ gest that II would be a good idea 20 give
/ the department Of health OF the District
OF Columbia IN addition 10 their other au-
/ thOrity Of inspection over lodging houses
I and small hotels and things OF that KIND
I in which most OF these deaths occur, the
power TO provide and enforce the pro-
vision that nothing but checked burners
shall be used in rooms in such lodging
1 houses and hotels. the size of the burner
7 20 be made suitable for the size of the
I roonl-that Is, the smaller rooms 70 nave
the smaller burnerS-and II. that way I
think you can do away with almost all
danger Of gas poisoning from any kind
Of Illuminating gas.
Mr.. Sims-Do you admit that the
poisonous character Of carburetted water
gas is as four or FIVE 10 one, as to coal
gas?
l Mr. COMPLIMENTARY, yes.
I Mr.. Sims-How is II that il IL is four
/ OF five times more dangerous. practically
/ il is not more dangerous? How do you
explain that?
l Mr. FOTstall-Because the exposure TO
/ the danger takes place under such con-
ditions that the least dangerous gas kills,
and you cannot be killed any deader By
/ the more dangerous gas
Mr.. Sims-That the least dangerous gas
kills with the same period of exposure
as the other?
I Mr.. FOrstall-No; not with the same
I period OF exposure, but the conditions
under which the exposure takes place are
/ such that the length OF the period OF
/ exposure is sufficient TO kill with the
! least dangerous gas. That has been the
result Of all the Investigations. as Mr..
/! Barker stated yesterday. that the Massa-
] chusetts gas commission has made; and
1t seems 10 me that is borne out by these
/ statistics from Baltimore and Chicago.
Mr. S.ms-Is there any hard and fast
I sllle by which persons who are exposed
/ 20 gas poisoning are all exposed for the
same period Of time9
1 Mr. Fcrsfsli-No sir