The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-19
THE GAS PROBLEM.

practical manner. There is no use
attempting the impossible or the i'm
practicable. 1t is simply futile.
That proposition to compel the local
gas company to start up the artificial
gas plant under it's control and pro-
vide the gas consumers with manu-
factured ras whenever there is a tenn
porary failure of the natural gas sup
ply through an accident of some sort
may have a reasonable sound off,
hand. But an analysis of the con-
ditions which would have to be met in
bringing about the accomplishment of
such an undertaking shows the plan to
be entirely impracticable.
When the weather is coolest the ten
million cubic feet of natural gas that
is available each day for this city is
hardly sufficient to meet the demands
made on it. The artificial gas plant
in this city has a maximum capacity
of 100000 cubic feet per day. 1t is
hard work though to get more than
maximum daily output of 100000
cubic feet from this plant for con-
tinued period. The heating capacity
of natural gas is what is termed 1000
units to a cubic feet The heating
capacity of manufactured gas is only
500 units per cubic foot. So in reality
a maximum supply of 100000 cubic
feet of manufactured gas would only
have heating capacity of 100000
cubic feet of natural gas. How far
would such a supply of manufactured
gas go in meeting a demand for ten
million cubic feet Of gas? The answer
is almost self evident. It would not
relieve the situation a particle. In
fact it would almost be lost in the
pipes.
Furthermore it is far more practical
to fill the gas reservoir with the
natural gas once or more times in
twenty-four hours. and this has been
done during the recent troubles; for
there are periods during the day and
night, even with low pressures, when
this is feasible, and was done more
quickly than gas could be manu-
factured.
Of course, if the gas company
could supply all of the manufactu
gas that would be required to help out
in an emergency which it is apparent
that it cannot do, it could not be ex-
pected that the company would or
could furnish it at the same price as
is charged for natural gas. It costs
sixty cents or more to manufacture
artificial gas per one thousand cubic
feet How would the gas company
arrange the meters, or have them read
so that it could charge on the months
bill for the natural gas that had been
used and also for the artificial gas?
This is another almost impossible fea-
ture of the situation. Then again, if
the manufactured gas plant was kept
in readiness to be put to work at the
instant the natural gas supply failed,
it would be unable to refill the tanks,
that might have had a reserve supply
in them and keep the supply up to the
maximum capacity inside Of ten or
twelve hours, and the failure of the
natural gas supply has been for a
shorter period than this on most
occasions This shows up another
feature of the plan as futility.
Then last but not least is the dan
ger that would ensue to the con-
sumner in turning manufactured gas
into the pipes to help out while the
supply of natural gas had failed.
There would need be a readjust-
ment of all burners and a rearrange-
ment of the methods of handling the
gas by the consumers which would
open the way to grave dangers which
will be realized by anyone who stops
to think of this phase of the subject
for a moment. In fact it is doubtful
if there is an official of a gas COM |
pany who would take the respon-
sibi1ity of ordering a supply of manu-
featured gas turned into the mains for !
the use of consumers who had been |
accustomed to using natural gas be- |
cause of the dangers involved
From the presentation of these facts J
it is easy to be seen that it is almost !
should be compelled to furnish manu- |
featured gas when there is a failure |
of the natural gas supply. 1t would |
be asking something that could not |
be done under the circumstances |
There is only one thing that can be |
done-make the best of the temporary
failures of the natural gas. inconven- |
lent and perhaps distressing in some /
cases as they are. 1t would seem that |
in ordinary weather such as is reason
able to expect in this territory. the |
of natural gas and Its |
cheapness more than outweigh the in
conveniences that rise when there is |
a temporary failure in the supply |
When the supply fails entirely as it |
possibly will at some date in the dis |
tant future, provision can then be |
made for a manufactured gas supply I
again. But no such amount of it will |
be required as is now demanded of |
the natural gas because its cost will !
be four times as great.