The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-30

facility in the manipulation OF large
works asDecfaIIv IN combination with
coal gas, because Il Is IN cOmDlnaJoA
with coal gas-tbat IS 70 say, IN the
form of mixed gas, coal and water
that Illuminating gas is Is r mani
There is an opinion. well settled, 1
think. among engineers nat IN most
Dl1Ces the effort TO - anuI lcJure tlLhg'
coal gas or water EsS alone and eN'
r1raIveIy might be more costly than 10
manufacture the two together Ihat Il.
however, i'm measure question oL
locality and could not be laid down as
an absolute rule. but II Is pOpulaL
method. and is such because OF the
economies incident to r..
Mr.. SlMS-In connection WIN J!lo
Massachusetts or Boston case, lnLeI
tfrHn what YOU say IL was urged on LIie
part Of those advocating the manufaC-
ture OF water gas tnat IN Boston d.
would be cheaper TO make water gas, or
a combination, thar to make a coal gas
AIR. BlRKER-At that time.
Mr.. SIMS mean at the time the
matter was before the legislature.
Little Public Interest.
Mr.. BARKER-Yes. Then, again,
there was very little public interest in
the proposition at any time, and, prior
to 1890. the new interests which had
come into Boston had bought out the
/ old interests, and when the contest be-
/ tween the TWO interests ceased, the pub
/ lie interest practically ceased in the
matter.
/ Mr.. SIHS-Due to agitation of con
! peting gas companies: they did not have
as much interest as they did?
Mr.. BARkER-Yes.
/ Mr.. SIMS-Upon what line of compes
/ ton, cheaper gas TO the consumer or
/ better gas. OF what
Mr. RARKER-That was the theory
/ upon which il was started, but we ulu
not have at that time as much coIhpe+
/ titiOn. because new interests bought out
/ Mr.. SIAIS-You spoke of the water gas
/ people wanting to get into Boston,
/ Upon what grounds; what argument dlu
/ they present as reason thaI Ihsy
/ would make cheaper gas
/ Mr.. BARKER-Nes; and make II OF
higher CaudlepOWeT.
Mr.. SIMS-TheTeTore, to the interest OF
MIR. BARKER-les Since then.
I think It was I'm 1897. we had a renewal
4 of the agitation. and that was the only
| time when we have hao any apPdi ~ 9l,,
/ DubIic interest in the proposition since
The law was repealed IN 1880. Lheh'
/ again, there was rival interest," az
/ tempting TO get into Boston. ana Iil9
time il was people VINO pIopoSeu 10 Ht ti
/ tribute coal gas, and so to bring puDlIC
I sentiment with them they raised tlg
carbon mOnoXide again, or II was RAISED
II do not know that ought to say tnal
they did IL. but my. suspicious nay y, :
outrun the evidence, that IS all-and the
result of that was that there was no
/ change of the law. but there was Ia y, "
passed making supervision over s els "a ~
tings and piping. and thaL Ia" 10 40" 81
Mr. TAYLOR Supervision over what
Causes Of Accidents.
nil, Tt -
MANY Of the accidents, many Of the
deaths. have been caused by poor piping
or moor fittings. For Instance. those
where the gas key, instead OF having
stopped when the passageway was
closed. might be turned around uncon
scJouslv after putting the light out, al
lowing the gas to escape; and then some
p times gas stoves poorly ntted uD b.
flexible and temporary piping woui'
have the piping separated from the stow
/ and allow the escape OF gas into I'M
. room and those things coming 10 tlt
attention Of the legislature very prom
Iueutly IN conhectlon Win ne 49,
ton. this measure with respect 10 super
. vision Of gas fittings was passed ma
is the only agitation we have had, an
/ that IS the result OF the agitation IL
the legislature.
, our board keeps watch OF all acci
/ dents both fatal and nOnfatal, occur
ing throughout the State from the us
, of Illuminating gas, or, 1 ought rathe
7 / 90 say. from the misuse OF IT,
4 Mr. M'ILHENNX-DO YOU notice IN
; deaths form electric light, too
Mr.. BARKER-We do, yes All fatal
/ / tiles and all accidents whore persona
! / injury occurs from the gas or electricity
. We are required TO Keep record or an
/ they are reported TO us, and we IN
vestgate ruch Of them a. We think nee
D. / Investigation.
o Asks His Advice.
e Mr.. sIAls-Have you finished your cor
{ / secutive statement
% MT. BARKER have finished IN
e topic; yes, sire.
5 Mr.. SIMS-I would like TO ask 20
this. as you are an expert witness an
can speak with knowledge. whic
Il would you recommend for a city lik
Washington. Boston. OF elsewhere. waite
gas or coal gas OF the same candle
power, and the same price II you ia
10 decide which YOU would adopt undo
"a like conditions / mean, IL Is no diteI
y cuCe 10 tue consumer and no dinel
70 enCe as In CaudIepOwer. no difterenC
"a a. 10 price, and no difference to candle
g. power, looking along 20 the pOsslbllitlt
c OF fatal accidents, or any kind or acc
s. dent which character Of gas would go
/ recommend for adoption, II you wei
D. / free 10 recommend
5- condition. TO my mind. and any ausWt
70 To- IL would be puTe-y theoretical, b'
he cause, it you viii pardon me. IL does M
% seem 10 me TO propose practical
he possible condition.
s- Mr. SIMS wait yOu TO answer
be / exactly as 70 appears 10 you, OF cOurs
-s Mr. BARKER think ] should /
he quite Indifferent about It,
e, Mn. SIMS-Take 70 as "a hypOthetic
1I question that in Washington the mani
be lactuTe OF water gas is equally eEpeI
re slVe 10 the company. suppOslHg that Il
gas company Us not affected financial
j. and the consumer is net affected final
~ cially, looking alone 10 the interest
a. public health, the possible prevention
accidents which would IL DO wise 10
,u to use exclusive coal gas or the 8,
re they do user
'h Mr. BARkER-That question Is f
yolved IN the other one simply as Il
lesser ls involved in the greater. 1t seen
20 me, and ] should have to answer
i7 10 the same way and j should have
1e say the same thing because L would
.r, / extremely skeptical with respect TO tn
0- description Of the lack Of economy
~ one thing or the other. That Is [, sa
" you win pardon me, I cannot couCei
us that either coal gas OF straight vat
re gas could be manufactured IN the Of
be of Washington - economically as mix
a- gas.
At More Economical.
TO Mr. SIAIs-Weu. your Judgment
no then. thai the manufacture of gas as