The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-31

as an illuminate since the introduction
Of greater percentage OF water gas.
Mr.. TAfLOR-You speak as citizen
of Washington
AIR. TTCEER-Yes.
Mr.. McILHENNY-T have seen as
many as 100 complaints a day here at
the office
Mr.. SIAIS-You are making water gas
as good as the water gas furnished any
where ia the country, are you uoLt
Making Better Gas
1ir AIcILHENNY-I> think we are
making it better ] do~not want to re-
fleet on anybody. but I think we are
doing the very best we know how.
Nj. SIOfS-Theres is no question made
against this gas as water gas; that is,
that there is better water gas service
anywhere else, the question is whether
we shall abandon water gas entirely
Mr.. MclLHENNI-GOu would make
mistake il yOu did
Mr. I.e CLERC-May i ask you, what
is the cause Of-the low gas pressure
which we. in certain parts Of this city,
lavet The pressure Is So low that the
lights 90 cut.
Mr. McILHENNY-Tha must be acct
dental. 1 do not understand why that
should be so What pafrt of the city IS
&c TO which you Uefer2
MI. AiOOtLEF-l ms does not relate Lp
the bin which we have under considera-
ton.
Mr. TAYLOR think I voice the SEN
tHuent of the committee i'm saying that
we are not here 10 investigate The pres
SURE at this time.
Mr.. SINIS-There was a bin sent by
the Commissioners relating To that sub
leCt, and If we can get any Information
out oil this gentleman, think we should
do so.
Mr.. AIcILHENNY-I would like to say
IN answer TO this oentiemau's question
thai If he will 60 10 the gas office and
tell them that IN any part Of this city
there IS an absence OF pressure, or there
IS any other thing to be complained of,
we viii have II remedied immediately [
DO not suppose he has ever gone to the
about 1t.
Mr.. lie CLERC-I hope 7 VIII have a
chance to testify on that point later
Mr.. TAHLOR-I stated to YOU that any
body IS entitled to make a statement
along the lines of this investigation.
Mr.. lie CJ-ERC-I would like to ask, i'm
case that is So that if there is "a low
gas, pressure, what remedial legislation
could we get or what would YOU oafer2
MU. AIcIBHENNY-Of course, il is q
matter of engineering. All we have to
do IL TO lay larger pipes or put a booster
in, as We call it.
Mr.. lie CLERC-That is an I want.
Mr.. FOrstalPs Statement.
Following is the statement of Mr..
Alfred r. ForstaH. gas engineer Of New
York city:
Mr.. TAYIOR-Wher is your home?
AR. FORSTALI-MOntcla n. J.. but
my office is in New York city Do you
care for my experience
Mr.. TAYJOR-In a minute: yes You
come before the committee at whose
suggestion
Mr.. FORsTALL-At the invitation Of
the Washington Gaslight Company
Mr. MOORE-Are you connected with
any gaSlight- company
Mr. FCrSSTALL-Oue very small one
in MaUch Chunk. Pa
Mr. TAYLOR-YOu might give MS a
little resume Of your experience
Brought Up in Gas Works.
Mr.. FOBSTALL-To a certain extent I
was brought up in the gas works. Ny
father was general superintendent of
the New Orleans GasHght Company
from the time that was 5 years old,
and I was trained especially for the
gas business. 1t was understood that
was TO go into it. Part Of that training
was q course I'm mechanical engineering
JIM Lehigl University, at Bethlehem, Pa.
followed by postgraduate year In
chemistry. After leaving college I went
right To work Tor the Chicago Gaslight
ana Coke Company, at Chicago, H..
stayed with them for SIX years; then
came to Newark, y. J.. and stayed with
that company seven years: then went to
the small company n Mauch Chunk
which was afterWaTd absorbed by the
Newark company. aud when that alb
sOrptiOn came I started in, in 1899 as q
consulting engineer.
Accident Not Due to M0nOxide.
Tt seems to me rather a curious thing
about this whole hearing that this ques-
ton Of the amount OF carbon monoxide
in the gas and as 20 whether it was
wise TO do IT was precipitated, as if il
was something entirely new, by an ac-
cident which did not depend at all upon
the amount of carbon monoxide in the
gas. Any gas natural sas) burned UNI
der those conditions would have caused
that accident just as quickly as gas
containing 100 per cent Of carbon mo
uOEidc.
Mr.. MOORE-You Ter to the Bre-
norman family
Mr.. FORSTALTs-Yes. To the Bremen
man family. Commissioner Barker re-
ferred this morning TO the sale of car
bureted water gas. In spite OF the eX-
plantations that have been given, I do
not think that the nature of carbureted
water gas has really been made clear. It
has been spoken OF as water gas mixed
with OIL but II IS not. It IS water gas
mixed with oil gas The Eas does not be
come caF5ureted water gas until the oil