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

better gas. or what?
Mr.. BARkER-That was the theory
not have at that time as much compe-
tition because new interests bought out
the old.
Mr.. SIMS-You spoke of the water
Upon what grounds; what argument did
| they present as reason; that they
would make cheaper gas?
| Mr. BARKER-Yes; and make 1t of
higher candlepower
| Mr. SIMS-Therefore. to the interest
Of the consumer?
Mr. BARKER-Yes Since then think
| it was in 1897, we had renewal Of the
agitation. and that was the only time
when we have had any apparent public
| interest in the proposition since the law
was repealed in 1890 Then, again, there
was rival interest attempting to get
into Boston. and this time 1t was people
who proposed to distribute coal gas, and
SO to bring public sentiment with them
they raised the carbon monoxide again,
or it was raised-I do not know that
ought to say that they did 1t. but my
suspicious have outrun the evidence. that
| is all-and the result OF that was that
there was no change of the law, but
there was a law passed making super
vision over gas fittings and piping, ana
that law is now in force
| Mr.. TAYLOR-Supervision over what!
Causes Of Accidents.
| Mr. BARKER-Gas fittings and piping.
Many Of the accidents, many of the
deaths. have been caused by poor piping
or poor fittings. For instance. those
where the gas key. instead of having
stopped when the passageway was closed.
might be turned around unconsciously
after putting the light out. allowing the
gas to continue to escape: and then some
times gas stoves poorly fitted up by f1ex-
ible and temporary piping would have
the piping separated from the stove anu
allow the escape of gas into the room,
and those things coming to the attention
of the legislature very prominently in
connection with the agitation, this meas
ure with respect to supervision 20 OF gas
agitation we have had, and that Is the
result OF the agitation In the legislature.
Our board keeps watch of all accidents.
both fatal and non.fatal occurring
throughout the state from the use OF
illuminating gas. or, 1 ought rather 10
say, from the misuse or 1t.
| Mr. MILHENNY-Do you notice the
deaths from electric light, too!
| Mr.. BARKER-We do; yes. All fatal
| tiles and all accidents, where personal
injury occurs from the gas OF electricity.
we are required to keep record OF. and
they are reported to US, and we 1nvestl-
gate such of them 8 we think need In
| vestgation.
Asks His Advice.
| Mr. SIMS-Have you hnlShed your con-
secutive statement?
| Mr.. BARKER-I have finished the topic;
yes, sir.
| Mr.. SIMS-I would like to ask you this.
! as you are an expert witness and can
speak with knowledge: Which would you
recommend for a city like Washington,
Boston or elsewhere. water gas or coal
| gas of the same candepOWer and the
same price. if you had to decide which
you would adopt under like conditions?
| I mean 1t is. no difference to the con-
sumner, and no difference as in candle
| power, no difference as to price. and no
| difference to candlepower. looking along
to the possibilities of fatal accident or
any kind of accidents, which character
of gas would you recommend for adop-
| ton, if you were free to recommend?
Mr.. BARKER-That is an impossible
condition to my mind. and any answer
! to- it would be purely theoretical, because,
| if you will pardon me, it does not seem
| to me to propose practical or possible
| condition.
Mr.. SIMS-I want you to answer it
exactly as it appears TO you Of course;
| Mr.. BARkER-I think / should be
quite Indifferent about it.
| Mr.. SIMS-Take it as a Hypothetical
question that in Washington the manu-
| facture of water gas is equally expen-
gas company is not affected financially,
| looking alone to the interest of public
| health, the possible prevention of acci-
dents, which would 1t be wise to do
| to use exclusive coal gas or the gas they
| do use?
| Mr. BARKER-That question is in
volved in the other one simply as the
lesser is involved in the greater. it seems
| to me- and 1 should have to answer 1t
| in the same way and l should have to
say the same thing, because 1 would be
| extremely skepncal with respect to that
| description of the lack Of economy in
l. nfh nr- r1,nt tC
If you will pardon me, I cannot conceive
| that either coal gas or straight water
| gas could be manufactured in the city
| Of Washington as economically as mixed
gas
| More Economical.
| Mr.. SIMS-Well. your judgment is. then.
that the manufacture of gas as it is
| mixed say 50 per cent water and 20 per
cent coal, is necessarily more ecoonmical
than to manufacture the straight coal
| gas?
Mr.. BARKER-Yes.
| Mr.. TAYLOR-Just a minute. What
difference does 1t make on the question of
economy of manufacture? AS 1 under
stand. this investigation is as to the
| danger of the use of carbon mOnoxide
regardless of it's cost or its saving. Is
that not the purpose Of this investiga-
ton as you understand it? We are not
i investigating the price OF gas.
| Mr. MURPHY-That economic feature
might provide a reason why gas en-
! dangering life is used instead Of a gas
| that would not endager life, because 1t
| may be cheaper.
| Mr.. TAYLOR-I have objection to
going into it if you want to.
| Mr. BARkER-Mr Chairman, If it
| were not for the extreme convenience of
this method of illumination, 1t ought to
| be prohibited altogether in any shape.
| There ought to be no Illuminating gas
| distributed anywhere, because it is a
| dangerous thing under certain conditions.
| when neglected or misused, except for its
| great convenience.
| Mr.. TAYLOR-That refers to all forms
| Of Illuminating gas?
| Mr.. BARKER-I think so; yes, sir.
Effect on Coal Supply.
Mr.. SIMS-Now. let me ask you a ques-
| ton. AS you are aware. there is great
| agitation going on in the country along
| the line Of the conservation of resources?
| Mr.. BARK ER-Yes, Sir.
| Mr. SIMS-If the manufacture of water
| gas is entirely excluded by law by the
| states and the nation. will it not make
| a greater draft upon the use of the coal
| supplies of the country than it otherwise
| would?
Mr.. BARkER-Its draft would be en-
| trely upon a certain specific line of coal
| supply, but it certainly would greatly in
| crease the draft upon that line of coal
| supply Az you understand, for the man
| ufacture of coal gas there Is only a par
| tcular grade of coal suitable, and that
t. AZ.