Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-30

under those conditions the fatalities and
recoveries seem to be about as regular.
A Higher Illuminant.
Mr.. SIMS-And the argument in favor
Of the using Of the water gas, or per-
hitting its use, as a mixed gas. has been
| upon the idea that in practice it causes
no more fatal or dangerous results. and
| that 1t is cheaper and Of higher illuminat-
ing power.
Mr.. BARKER-Yes SIR.
Mr.. MURPHY-Cheaper to manufac-
ture?
Mr.. SIMs-cheaper to manufacture;
| that Is what 1 mean. 1t would make no
difference. would it, an economic
proposition. to a manufacturing company.
as to whether they used coal or water
gas, providing they were allowed to have
the same percentage OF earnings upon
the investment?
Mr.. BARKER-Well. 1T does not occur
to me that it would.
Mr.. SIMS-If there was an arbitrary
price fixed for both gases. or any gas
! used, then 1 could see why company
would desire to make the cheapest gas.
! but If the price OF gas Is fixed upon
the cost of manufacture to the company,
and the Investment therefor. then it
would not make any difference to the
company whether they made coal or wa
| ter gas exclusively, If they got the same
per cent of earnings upon the invest
ment?
Mr. BARKER-No: they could prob
ably continue in that attitude for any
length Of time.
Mr.. SIMS-We are assured here by
gentlemen who know whereof they speak,
from the standpoint of the company,
that water gas was not adopted here
from economic reasons, but on account
Of the candlepower required they have to
use oil to such an extent that the gas
cnrnnonv honoHt from the
facture Of water gas.
Mr.. BARKER-I can understand that.
Mr.. SIMS-Then they would have no
interest in it. except changing their plant
so as to manufacture coal gas exclu
sively?
Mr.. BARKER-I can understand very
we'll the necessity for the use of water
gas to obtain high and satisfactory
candiepower satisfactory gas Of a high
candlepOwer.
Mr.. MURPRY-Do you mean it cannot
be obtained with coal gas?
Mr.. BARKER-Yes. sir. I do not think
dlepower can be obtained with coal
Mr. MURPHY-The ordinary candle
power used in Illuminating cities. say
20-candlepower. IS. 20, or %?
Mr.. BARKER-No. sir: that will not
be made in the coal gas works. in an
| exclusively coal gas works. as a salts
| factory gas. 1t never has been, to my
knowledge.
Mr.. sIMS-Which is a better gas to
use for heating purposes. water or ex
clusively coal gas?
Mr.. BARKER-Well. strictly speaking,
think that theoretically the coal gas
has a trifie higher heating power.
Mr.. SIMS-Speaking alone for myself.
| and this being the Capital city, and We
are trying to keep it in condition to be
beautiful, and so forth, 1 thought it was
to the interest Of the people here to use
gas for heating purposes as much as
| .,-i1, rt1 ~ fhn md
cinders that come out of the use Of coal
or other fuel and If gas can be made
that can be used for heating purposes,
cooking ranges. gas heaters and things
Of that sort, it seems to me as II we
ought to encourage 1T in this city espe-
cially rather than retard 1t.
Little Used for Heating.
Mr.. BARKER-I presumed that gas was
probably used in this city now largely
for cooking purposes. but very little for
| heating purposes.
Mr.. SIMS-They have small gas heaters
in bathrooms and small rooms. and the
like Of that. now.
Mr.. BARKER-Yes, but 1t is really .
small use.
Mr.. SIMs-Yes. it might be ignored en-
tirely.
Mr.. TAYLoR-You refer to heating
houses?
Mr. BARKER-I refer to heating
houses. illuminating rooms is regular
| method. l suspect that where gas is
used for heating rooms it is only used
occa sionally.
Mr.. SIMS-I have heard people here say
that to cook exclusively with gas costs
them less than the coal.
Mr.. BARKER-That demands low
priced gas.
point Can you make a lowpriced gas
with water and reinforce it with oil suf-
ficient to make enty-two-candlepower
gas?
! Mr.. SIMS-To raise 1t to the twenty
| two-candlepower will you make any
cheaper gas than you would to make
coal gas Of higher candlepower.
Mr.. BARKER-Oh, yes; the fact is that
the ordinary water gas, SO called. is a
mixture Of steam and Oil. Steam and
oil are used together to manufacture the
| carbureted water gas?
! Mr.. SIMS-In using carbureted water
gas as fuel for cooking ranges will it
or not be more dangerous, in practical
way, than coal gas!
MI BARKER-I think not; l cannot
Mr.. SiMs-Your Investigations that you
have previously referred to are the basis
| of your conclusions in the matter?
| Mr.. BARKER-Yes, sir.
| Mr. TAYLOR-Several gentlemen from
out Of the city. Mr.. Sims, are here to
Mr.. SIMS-Well. 1 thought that IL we
could get the information out now we
! had better do so.
Mr. GOLDSBOROUGH-Mr Barker. in
| reference to the relative cost you speak
| Of YOU have in mind the economies of
| using coke in the water gas process. have
| YOU not of using the two together, rather
| than the economies Of two separate prop
| ositions?
Would Require New Plant.
| Mr.. BARKER-Yes: that is to say,
using a mixed gas, as l understand is the
| case in this city. 1t is very likely that
| the two gases are very closely equiva-
| lent in cost but If you were to make
either Of them exclusively. 1 should ex-
| pect to find the cost increased, and very
| largely increased if it were to be eXclu
sively coal gas.
Mr. SIMS-In other words, if this bill
| is passed limiting the carbon monoxide
| to 10 per cent, making it impossible to
use water gas. then the cost of coal gas
will be higher than the cost Of that the
| company can furnish at the present time?
Mr. BARKER-Yes, and the candle
power lower. AS q single illustration
| it has been a number Of years since
| saw the Washington gas works, and
| not know much about them now, and do
not assume to-but If they are making a
mixed gas of the percentages that have
| been stated here. / should expect that
| If they were required to make coal
| gas, it would require very substantial
| addition to their present investment to
| construct the works to begin with.