The Washington herald., 1909-01-24
DISTRICT EMPLOYE
KNEW GAS DANGER
Continued from Page One.

said that sulphur injured the wall paper.
and that ammonia injured the gas fix
lures
The members OF the District committee
smiled significantly as one member said.
."Ah. see We have dropped the danger
to human life and taken up the salvation
OF inanimate things
Mr.. Sins criticised NJ Runyan's fail
ure 10 report the existence of carbon
monoxide he found in the gas. but said
there was nothing that could be done.
as the law did not require him 10 make
a report
Dr. J. X. Hayward. an expert OF the
Bureau Of Chemistry. was recalled 20
the stand by Representative sims. Dr..
Hayward said that he had never stated
that the presence OF large percentage
OF carbon monoxide in the gas was re-
spsnsible for three deaths in the Bremen
ton family. He added. however. that
water gas, which contains carbon mon
oxide in very large quantities. should
not be permitted IN gas sold for iuumiast-
ing purposes. DIT. Hayward said that very
few cities IN Europe had allowed
water gas in the Illuminating products
in a great many years. and that the
death rate there from asphyXistiOn was
small in comparison 10 what II IS in
America.
Coal Gas Superior.
He told the committee that coal gas
was much superior TO water gas for
Illuminating purposes. and was so much
less dangerous He said water gas should
not be tolerated n Washington.
The candle power. said DR.. Hayward. Is
lower IN coal gas than In the water prod
uct, but Il is very much more sstisfac-
tory in many ways.
Several extracts were read from noted
chemists to show the danger Of water
gas, and DR.. Hayward again told OF his
experiments in Washington.
DIT. Skinner. also Of the Bureau OF
Chemistry. followed Dr. Hayward, and
fndorsed everything he had said relative
TO the dangers OF water gas.
There IS always danger in the use OF
any gas that contains carbon monoxide. "
the views Of the worlds most eminent
chemists on carbon m0noxide- He quoted
from Sir William Ramsey. whom he de-
scribed as the foremost chemist in the
world
These authorities" he said. agreed
that the great danger from water gas
is the high percentage Of carbon monox-
ide II contains" He added that carbon
monoxide was one Of the most virulent
gases known to scientists.
Dr. Skinner said that the principal
danger from gas was during the sleep
ing hours. when the fixtures were liable
70 leak, even if they were comparatively
new.
Mass Of Testimony.
There is a great mass Of testimony,
said DR.. Skinner, to show the general
agreement Of experts On the subject Of
toxic properties Of carbon monoxide. He
thought It was faIlacious argument to
say that water gas was only five or six
times as dangerous as coal gas. because
It confined only five or six times as much
carbon monoxide. He said it was a Qges-
ton OF life and death rather than a ques-
ton Of percentages.
AS for candle powers, DR.. Skinner
thought that was an economic question,
and should be considered and settled
along those lines. He had dealt only
with the sanitary aspects Of the matter,
and although some Of the information he
had received had not been collected very
recently. he thought il was extremely
important
He read-frOD q report Of the sgbcom-
mittee OF the London Board OF Trade.
dated in the early part OF January. show
ing a great increase in gas poisoning.
due to the presence OF carbon mOnoxide
in Illuminating gas OF increased candle
power. He made the assertion, however.
that q high candle power was not neces-
.-.