The Washington herald., 1909-02-02
Statement of Mr.. John McIIhenny,
Consulting Engineer of the wash
inEton Gas Company
fCoufiuuPdl


Mr.. Moore-You have given US very
interesting resi- ne OF the gas business,
and you have alluded 10 history twice,
ing You are familiar. Of course, with
the Introduction Of gas in the city or
Philadelphia
Mr. McIlhenny-Tes.
Mr Moore-Do you remember the
stories Of the agitation al that time7
Mr. McIlhenny-Yes.
1. Mr. Taylor-As a member OF the COM
mittee who does not remember. would
like 10 have some light
Mr.. MOOre-SuppOse you tel the chair
man and the members OF the committee
what the impression OF the people gen
orally was when this new illuminant
was propOsed2
Mr. McIlhenny-The first great exhibi-
/ ton Of gas took place In 1915, when the
crowned heads Of Europe assembled IN
London 70 celebrate the downfall OF
Napoleon There was a Mr.. Murdock
there who came out Of the establishment
Of Bolden & Watts The world Is in
debted 70 Watts for being the inventor
OF the pump. the boiler pump. making
steam engines available. This Mr.. Mur-
dock. in order 10 celebrate this great
event which was probably the largest
gathering Of distinguished people ever to-
gether n the world, had pagoda built
for the ball 10 be given 70 them, and
I0.0O9 OF the new lights in IL By some
, device he had them al lighted al once.
and IL made great impression on the
! people there. who came from every part
T of the world. and the business spread
/ Immediately through the greatest adver-
tiSement that has ever been known Also.
people looked better under the gas light
than they did in the day light, and Il
magnifed even the brilliancy OF the
{ jewelry, and il had everything to com
mend il. and works were built all over
( the civilized world
+ IN lS25 the city Of Philadelphia sent Mr.
Samuel Merritt. who you have heard OF
often, over TO Europe to investigate the
I gas business There had been some gas
/ before in this country, believe, in Balti-
more. and by this tins the Parliament o.
+ England had discovered that il would ex-
+ plode They had not thought of that,
and so they commenced 10 make laws
+ against this gas. One Of the things they
compelled them 70 do was to put a brick
+ house over every gas holder, and then
/ they thought the pipes would explode
under the streets OF course. putting
the house over the gas holder only in
( creased the force Of the damage, because
7 the lights in each iron holder would ex-
plode and do no harm, but If they ex-
ploded. all these bricks were scattered
/ over everything. and they might hurt
people. So they gave that up Then in
Philadelphia a very distinguished citizen
there. a man VINO afterward became the
engineer Of the gas works, Mr.. John c.
Preston, a member OF the Franklin In
/ stitute, published papers. which are still
/ in existence. advising people against in
PRODUCING Il. that il was dangerous, and
/ poisonous. and II you swallowed it ii
would kill you. If you allowed little OF
( il in your room, IL would explode and de-
strov you. and he said. finally. that the
I pipes would ali blow up under the streets
and blow I'D the town. and all that OF
/ course. al Of that was wrong.
/ Mr. Moore-It was generally regarded
as a very dangerous experiment?
I Mr.. 8IcIlhenny-Yes-
| Mr.. Moore-An innovation that would
/ probably supeTsede the sperm oil lamp
and the tallow candle?
I AIr MCIlhenny-Yes.
( Mr.. MOore-People were really afraid
: they would have 10 dispense with those
very great accessories 10 their happiness
Nj. MC1fleul1-l D6lAefS al Lle IdftOW
candles IN the world would not light
Washington as well as It is lighted by
gas So the gas has been q very impoT-
| tant factor in the affairs Of men
Mr. Moore-Now, being an engineer and
q manufactures, what would you suggest
/ BY way OF regulation, by way Of lessen
/ ing the number Of deaths. by way Of
keeping under control these dangerous
substances that we have had explained
20 Us that arise from the manufacture
OF water gas2
Mr. McIlhenny-I believe. as you said
a moment ago. Mr.. Moore, that you can
not make any laws that win make peo-
f! pie careful. and even arouse an interest
I in them about danger They seem to
run headlOng into things. I think that
I IS very much Ike tne trolley accidents
there there were a great many deaths,
but now there do not seem to be many
People know the danger and keep out Of
I the way. Ny remedy would be TO have
a severe inspection OF piping and fittings
+ all over the house. and to give a circular
F. 10 every family that used gas. telling
them where the risk lay.
Mr.. Sims-Do We have any inspection Of
+ fittings IN the houses?
Mr. McIlhenny-We have them
Mr.. Sims-If there has ever been a gas
inspector in my house, have not seen
him.
Mr.. McIlhenny-They do have inspec-