Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-22
Superintendent of Manufac.
ture a Witness Today.
DISTRICT THE PLAINTIFF
Corporation Counsel Attempts to
Prove Carelessness.
METHODS OF MAKING PRODUCT
Lowering of the Candle Power Said
to Be Due to Unavoid-
able Causes.

John ). Mcllhenny. superintendent of
manufacture Of the Washington Gas
Light Company. underwent a rigid ex-
ANIMATION and croSS-eXamination today
in the suit of the District of Columbia
to recover penalties for the alleged
manufacture of gas below the standard.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Stephens
brought out the fact that four of the
eight purifiers used by the company had
been dismantled at the time of the
manufacture Of the gas which has been
questioned. Purifiers are boxlike ar
engagements filled partially with lime,
through which the gas passes.
In the cross-eXamination by Attorney r.
Ross Perry Mr.. McIlherny said that the
four purifiers had been taken down as
part of plan to care for increased pro-
duction.
Mr. Stephens effort this morning was
to show carelessness on the part of the
gas company, and he said so. His ques-
tioning disclosed that the reports of diff
ferent testing stations showed average
candlepower for the gas. Mr.. Mc1lhenny
said that the average of all the testing
stations was the thing to be considered
when testing gas for power and purity.
Explains the Manufacture.
Under the cross-questioning Of Attorney
Perry Mr.. McIlhenny explained the
manufacture OF gas.
He said that in order to get the re-
Quired twenty-five candlepower it Is nee
essary to manufacture coal gas, water
gas and oil gas. Coal gas il from fourteen
to sixteen candlepower. and the water
gas is made of much higher power to
mix properly with the coal gas. Oil gas
is used in small quantity to produce a
purer quality.
Mr. stephens had intimated that there
would be an attack on the gas companies
methods Of making gas. and Mr.. Perry
began to take UP the various items used
in the manufacture.
Mr.. McIlhenny put the blame for not
getting better quality of oil on the
Standard Oil Company, but declared that
the Oil obtained was the best to be had
Could naphtha be obtained the gas would
be much more powerful, he said; but that
article is scarce at present The gas man.
ufacturers also get the best coal pro-
durable. he said. using the Pennsylvania
product.
Regarded as Joke.
Mr.. Perry then asked:
And do you use good quality OF
water?'
Eyes, the best we can get" was the
answer
Where do you get your water?'
From the Potomac river"
The jury was inclined to think this a
joke. and laughed. Mr.. Perry explained
that he asked the question because Mr.
Stephens had suggested that the COM
panies might use distilled water
Shortly before adjourning Chief Justice
Clabaugh stated that it was his under
standing that gas should be of the re-
quired candlepower and purity at any
hour OF the day and night, and that no
one hour was more favorable for a test py
the government than another.
Due to Unavoidable Causes.
Mr.. McIlhenny explained during the
course Of the afternoon that the lowering
of the candlepower. against which the
District complains. was caused by un-
avoidable incidents in manufacture. He
said it was not the result of carelessness
He added that IL at present the gas fell
below the average Of % candlepower, the
details Of manufacture would be exam
ined. SO that the cause could be located
AS one cause for decreased candlepow.
er. the recent explosion at the west sta
ton was given as an example. Mr. Nc
Ilhenny said that accident affected the
candlepower, and, of course. was ar
unforeseen cause.