The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-01

SIR. MOORE-Have vou not sIresd.
sasd that so far as tho operation Of the
gas plants - concerned iu various mt
inequalities, it Is very largely a matter
Of regulation by the various municipsli
Mr. FOBSTALT.-Prac all the
gas companies iu the larger cities of the
United States are under "a regulation as
20 the quality and purity OF the gas
Inere are certain constituents both OF
coal Gaa and carhUCted water ga-
which have Bseu picked out by law as
belng obnoxious and the extent 90
winch they are permitted to be present
hds been limited By law or by ordinance
and the gas companies in all the large
cities are under those regulations; bgc
those regulations have never included
carbon monoXide- Tircy include sui
pnureted hydrogen. which IS not allowed
al all
Picked Out as Obnoxious.
Then there are sulphureted commands
and other things which are not known
TO the trade at All which are allowed to
extend 10 % grains per 100 feet. The
reason That those things have been
picked out for regulation is that the
products OF combustion formed by them
81 6 LUXURIOUS II Is not that they them
selves are particularly obnoxious On the
gas, out when the gas IS burned the
products are obnoxious
Mr. MOORE-They make a smoky
gas2
Mr. FORSTALI~-No the suInburete5
hydrogen and the sulphureted com
pounds 10 certain extent viii Y~od,fr.s
the same effect on you that b. r1-CSJ,fce5
by the fumes of a sulphur match IA
dHecls Jno mucous membrane nj the
throat ana lungs. / said that that aU OF
them were picked out. OF co4frsc ti,-
presence OF ammonia has been IfrD{fod
because OF its effect while 10 Is ia the
gas but that regulation Is gradually
disappearing now. England has given 81
up altogether; has had ii and given Il
up.
Mr.. GOLDsBOROUGH-It paws the
gas company TO take IL out. does IL not
Mr.. FOkSIALL-A large gas com
Pany' yes sir; small gas company Is
Mr. MURPHY The question. in toe
manner IA which 1t was stated by MI
Moore, was that you estimated thai
there would be a destruction of seven
million dollars worth OF property in the
change here. You did not make any
estimate?
Mr., FORsTALL-No made no ezt-
mate, and tried to make that clear ~
my answer.
Question of Compromise.
Mr.. 1IOORE-Have you any comproui-
Use to suggest 20 this committee as be
tween the operation of this bill. which
has been said TO be practically destruc-
tive, and the proper distribution OF gas
service to the people Of the District OF
Mr. FORsTALL-I suggested. in
answer TO Mr.. Sims. that a great deal
OF the danger from gas poisoning IN the
locations IN which the statistics show
II 70 occur can be reTnedied. or could
be obyiated. by giving the health de
partment OF the District the authority
to enforce regulations as TO the charac-
ter and size OF burners that should BE-
used IN the rooms of the lodging houses
and smaller tenemehrs.
Mr. MOORE-Then you boil II all down
} TO a question OF regulation, would you
Dir. FORSTALL-It- is a question or
regulation Of piping and fittings and FIX
lures.
Company Does It's Best.
Mr.. SINS-From your knowledge Of
| the conditions in washington, does not
| the Washington Gaslight Company fur
nish the water gas in as excellent a
manner as II can be furnished?
Mr.. FORSTALL-As far as the com
/ pany is concerned. yes.
Mr. SIMS-In ether words by any
thing the company can do In retaining
| the water gas they cannot reduce the
dangers TO life and health?
Mr.. FORSTALL-NO. You see as FAR
as the company's operations are con
/ cerned. there is no danger. I do not
! think there has Deen case OF poison
| ing TO an emplOye OF the gas company
| / found no record OF IL Ia going over the
| records, and that IS the rule throughout
/ the country; there are no gas WoSks
/ employees that are hurt
Mr SIMS-I have reference TO ths
! public service to their customers
/ Mr.. FORSTAII-TheTe is nothing the
/ company can do. They deliver Il 10
J the meter in as safe a way as Il can
Mr.. sIMs-No regulations can be
/ adopted. or legislation. that viii make
/ water gas more safe % the public mere
/ than T. is as now distributed II ] IN
! derstand, 90 far a. the company IS
/ cOnCeTntd'
! Mr.. FORsTALL-No. 90 not tn n'i
si TT KELIHER-The authority Of the
company ceases when the gas reaches
/ the meter does it u0t2
/ Mr.. FORSTALL-SO I have always
/ understood I think that IS the view
/ that IS taken.
Cannot Enforce Rules.
/ As. KELIHER-From the time IT,
/ leaves the meter the company has moth
/ ing % do with directing the manner ia
/ which il is carried,
! Mr.. FORSTALL-The company can
act in an advisory capacity, but it car
not lay down any regulations as .
1 how it must be used
! Alr. KELIHER-Haye you found any
[ law here or any regulation that directs
the manner OF piping, the size or pipes.
! and so forth, I'm the District?
/ Mr.. FORSTALL-I understand from
| this letter from Commissioner BIacfaY
/ land which lis printed in the report OF
I the hearings OF January 3. that there is
! such a law. but do not know what -
! is There are some regulations as e.
/ gas fitting.
/ ,rr. MOORE-There are regulations
J as to plumbing. AR EeiileT. and there
! are quite a number pertaining TO the
! operation Of gas plants.
/ Mr.. TAYLOR-0fr Thomas do you
/ desire TO ask any questions
Visit TO Gas Plant.
! h N THO1IAS-As understood
/ yoa visited this gas plant WhSn?
/ Ri. FORSTALL-In 1901 7 "a some
work down there.
! Mr.. THOALAS-Did y0u make an eN-
4 tensive investigation or the capacity
J and character of the plant al that time
/ Mr.. FORSTALL-NO: / was engaged
( in the test OF a process which was BE-
4 ing tried there, and that was the culF
thing that occupied my time
/ Mp, THOMAS-Iou have not gone
over the plant in order 70 make an es-
/ tfmafe OF what &c would cost 20 alter
the plant so that il could manura
tUre coal Eas2
| MIR. FORSTA sir
/ ar THOMAS-Aud, therefore you
. cannot give any Fsils+Di9 Hsurea upon
that proposition