The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
Poisonous Mono1ide.

Poisonous MOnOIide.
Representative Sims further asked ne
II I knew carbon monoxide 10 be poison
Gus. and II 50. why I did not report It TO
the proper authorities. I replied that I
did know this compound 10 be poisonous.
and that nv reason for not reporting
these partial analyses was that ali g.
Eliminating gas contains carbon monoxlde.
water gas containing q relatively greater
amount than coal gas. that water gas has
been supplied TO this city for many years,
and there IS no law or regulation p7Oh!b-
iting its manufacture and sale, and fur
ther. that the analysis OF the gas vas
not complete. and It would be q most IN
usual course to report a partial chemical
analysis Of q gas
Il further stated that these tests were
only preliminary and that Il was my n
tention 70 secure other apparatus and 20
make chemical analysis OF the gas from
tine 10 time. and to include them IN my
annual reports. as a matter OF general
information; but that this was prevented
by the great increase Of the regular work
required OF my Office, which fully occu-
pied the time of myself and my assist
ants. leaving ne no opportunity TO do
more than fulfill the duties prescribed
by law.
Tt was further stated 70 the commit
tee, that while no special report was
made Of the presence Of carbon monox-
ide, each year in my annual report 20 the
Board Of Commissioners I had made the
statement that the gas supplied BY the
Washington Gaslight Company IS a mix
ture Of carboreted water gas and coal
gas.
The foregoing IS, I believe TIE sub
stance Of my statement made before the
committee, made from memory.
Now as TO the suggestion that I also
submit any explanation I might desire.
Duties Are Defined.
Ny duties are clearly and precisely de-
fined by statute, and while know that
you are familiar with them IN a general
way, I would call attention 70 the fact
that those duties include the following:
81 The testing OF ell new gas meters. Of al uets-s
in regarding which Complaints sre made either
b. the cous1mer q by The companies, and q ali
meters which have been repaired after being foznd
detective
2 The daily making Of Czndls-powsr tests Of the
gas at sadOD in this territory supplied by the
/ GeGsetovn Gasight Company, and az thres differ
ent stations n the territory supplied By the Wash
fngtOl G2slICht Company This means 2 test a
Georgetown, az ny main otfice and laboTztory
one a. rs Fourteenth street northwest. aad one al
I 500 = street southeast
> The making Of daily tests for sulphur. ammonia
and sllphuretsd hydrugen-
Relative 10 the testing OF meters, ]
may say that the work IN this respect has
nearly doubled within the past five years
/ the number now tested per aunum being
/ between 5000 and 1000. the greater portion
OF the time Of my assistants being de-
voted to meter testing. IN this connee-
I ton It is also 10 be observed that the test
/ ing OF meters. Ike the making Of candle
power tests and Of chemical tests, is z
/ labor that cannot be interrupted; a test
not completed must be started anew
This fact renders It necessary that, while
my assistants are testing meters, I shall
/ be on duty IN my Office to receive com
| plants and 70 receive deposits required
BY law. I am required TO keep a record
OF ali tests made, both Of meters and Of
/ the gas. as well as OF all money received
which is turned over 10 the collector Of
/ taxes for the District
The amount OF work thrown upon ny
| Office, especially in view OF the limited
number OF assistants allowed me, IS such
as 20 compel me almost invariably TO ex
tend my hours Of official labor untf
about SO o'clock. and very often I an
compelled 10 make tests at my branch