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

plant even. and certainly with different
plants. different methods of manufa cture,
different processes.
Mr. MURPHY-Why should it vary on
different days.
Mr.. LOVE-Simply because it is mat
ter of heating the retorts. and matter
of the control of the process. 1t is alb
solutely impossible to control and get
absolutely the same result every time.
Mr.. GOLDSBOROUGH-Th amount of
moisture in the atmosphere and the pres
sure would be likely to have influence on
it. would they not?
Mr.. LOVE-More on the heat any any
thing else.
Mr.. SIMS-Perhaps it is not an i'm
proper question, since you are gas in
spector. to ask what salary they pay gas
inspectors in New York.
Mr.. LOVE-They pay the chief gas eX-
aminer 5000 4 year. They pay the ordi-
nary gas inspectors $500.
Mr.. SIMS-You are the chief, are you?
Mr.. LOVE-Yes.
Mr.. SIMS-You are the $1,000 man?
Mr.. LOVE-Yes. sir.
Mr.. SIMS-I understood You to say
that when there is more than 90 per cent
of carbon monoxide in gas that that pre-
| cluded any mixture Of coal gas?
A Legal Proposition.
Mr.. LOVE-As a legal proposition.
SOY mat d SdS iiiSul tohtoAh
can make a mixture of water gas and
| coal gas and keep the percentage of car
bonc oxide to 20 per cent, and still have
coal gas in 1t.
Mr.. SIMS-I say, as a practical ques-
ton.
Mr.. LOVE-Yes, sir.
Mr.. MOORE-It seems to have been
fairly well demonstrated here that mon
oxide is a poisonous quantity. and also
~ hot ~, <1, -,f ,v-o
of gas since the beginning. 1t appears
to me that the announcements that have
recently come forth that deaths have
occurred through poisoning by monoxide
are not new propositions. l want to ask
you whether, in view of your experience
in New York city, you have any sugges-
ton to make to how the danger may
be lessened. whether 1t shall be by the
elimination of the Manufacture altogether
| or whether it shall be by regulation?
Mr.. LOVE-I do not think that any
amount of legislation will ever stop the
bad practice that some people have OF
turning on the gas and forgetting all
| about it. and of blowing it, out. if they
do not know any better, or turning 1t
out and letting it flow into the room UNI
burned, if they want to commit suicide.
Mr.. MOORE-Is it your judgment, then.
that the appearance of monoxide in the
use of gas can be properly controlled?
Mr.. LOVE-I think 1t can.
Mr.. MOORE-You think there is a
method of regulating?
Mr.. LOVE-I should not undertake to
do it by simply wiping out a gas which
otherwise has a great many good quail
ties, simply because some people abuse 1t.
Effect Of Abolishing Monoxide.
Mr.. MOORE-Suppose a measure should
be introduced having in view the extinc-
ton of monoxide, which would mean the
cessation of the manufacture: what would
! the effect be upon existing gas-making
plants throughout the United States?
| Mr.. LOVE-Those that are making a
carbureted water gas today would have
just that much capital tied up. which
would be no earthly use to them. 1t Is
! impossible to make a coal gas In a plant
originally devised for the manufacture of
| water gas. exactly in the same way that
| it is impossible to make water gas In a
| plant originally devised for the manufac-
| ture of coal gas. Each stands by itself
| Mr.. MOORE-Then it would have Sc
rious effect upon the investment of capt.
| tai everywhere?
| Mr.. LOVH-It certainly would.
| Mr.. MOORE-Would it mean the dis
mantling of establishments?
| Mr.. LOVE-No; they would gradually
rust out. / suppose. A water-gas plant
| that could not be used for the manufac-
ture of water gas would not be of any
earthly use to the company.
| Mr.. MOORE-In a newspaper which
| read this morning is an account of two
| deaths from coal gas in the district which
l represent in Philadelphia. Our popula-
| ton there is more than a million and a
half. These were accidental deaths, ap-
parently. due either to ignorance In the
use of the gas or to other causes. possibly
| negligence. / am going to ask you
whether you have any statistics showing
| the number of deaths that have occurred
Through monoxide in the Jurisdiction that
comes under your observation?
| Mr.. LOVE-No sir Years ago I COM
menced pretty careful examination. and
the newspapers had it. ''Well, here is an
other death by carbon monoxide, due to
water gas 1 found that it was not a
case of carbon monoxide at all 1 found
a great many cases in which it was due
to coal gas. At the same time, in the
early history of the water-gas contro-
versy there was a great deal Of coal gas
used. more coal gc- than anything else
in New York city, ID l carried that out
for a year or two. Jut / finally dropped
| IT..
AS Old as History.
Mr.. TAYLOR-These men slept in q
| room where they had coal stove with
out any pipe to it, and the fumes from
the burning coal in the stove overcame
them and killed them.
Mr.. LOVE-That is as old as history, tc
! commit suicide by starting a coal fire anC
putting a lid over it.
| Mr. TAYLOR-These men came in TIC
| get out of the cold: they did not try tC
commit suicide.
| Mr. MURPHY-Do you know whether
there has been any increase in fatal &C
| cidents since the substitution of the heav-
| Ter oils for naphtha in the water-gas
process?
Mr. LOVE-You mean the increase Of
the consumption of the heavier oils over
naphtha?
| Mr. MURPHY-No. l mean has there
| been any increase in the fatal accidents
Has there been any change, any increase
| or decrease in the number OF fatal acct
| dents?
Mr.. LOvE-After the introduction OF
water gas?'
| Mr.. MURPHY-No. / mean after the
| heavier oils were substituted for naphtha
| Mr.. LOVE-The heavier oils have moth
| ing to do with it. They are merely used
! for carbureting material. They do not
produce carbon monoxide. That exists ir
| the blue gas.
! Mr.. MURPHY-You still have not an.
swered my question. l asked you whether
you know if there has been any increase
| or decrease since that time.
| Mr.. LOVE-I do not.
Question Of Quickness.
| Mr.. SIMS-Let me ask you this, as yor
are a competent witness to testify. Say
you have a person in a room. 1t makes
no difference about the size. The same
volume of coal gas goes into that room
and then another person in another room
| nf the same size with the same whine