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

from a sanitary standpoint. Whether on
gas or the other is used. there is danger
connected with its escape in an unburned
condition into rooms occupied by human
beings. But long before enough of either
to produce bad effects could accumulate in
a room. il would necessarily be detected
by its odor, for both specimens submitted
to me had. as far as l couSl judge. equal
ly bad doors
I'm case the occupants OF the room
would be asleep at the time of the es
cape of the gas IL is possible that a fatal
effect might be reached a few minutes
earlier in the case OF water gas than in
that of coal gas. but 1t is highly improba-
BILE that in either case there would be a
leak in the pipes sufficiently bad TO lead
to serious results without attracting at
tention during the waking hours.
My opinion may be briefly stated thus:
I do not consider the use OF water
the same precautions as are observed in
the use Of ordinary coal gas. Yours. re-
specially, IRA REMSEN.'
That is taken from the report of the
commissioner of health OF the city OF
Brooklyn. dated 1883.
Mr.. SIMS-Twenty-six years ago?
Mr.. LOVE-Yes. sir j will say that
this report was a natural outgrowth OF
the use of the carbureted water gas in
New York city. practically on Manhattan
Island. which was being distributed by
the Municipal Gaslight Company. That
was the starting point. There was con-
siderable opposition. OF course. to tho
work of that company. They were en-
croachinE very seriously on the sales OF
the old coal gas companies. and part OF
this work, I have not the slightest doubt.
was undertaken and performed in a per-
fectly honest conscientious manner, but
lots of the work at that time-the feeling
was very bitter-was done simply because
it interfered with another mans business.
Mr.. SIMS-The contest between two
companies seeking to occupy the same
field?
Mr.. LOvE-Exactly. Now. certain opin-
ions have been offered this committee re-
gardng the quality of carbureted water
gas and the probable effect on human
life. l may say that coal gas was discov-
cred In 1877. and Sir Humphry Davy, who
lived at that time. and who was the
greatest chemist Of his day. objected to
coal gas. because he was afraid it was
going to be injurious to the public. If We
had stopped right there. there would have
been no coal gas. to say nothing about
other processes which have been developed
along that line.
Prof. Chandler. who is at the present
time professor of chemistry in the Column
bia University of New York, was. about
the time OF this agitation. In about 1880
to 1885. president of the New York city
board of health. The articles appearing
in the daily press had naturally aroused
the public to some little anxiety as To
what was to be apprehended from this
new gas. The matter was brought to the
attention of the board of aldermen. They
referred the matter to the board Of health.
Of which Prof. Chandler was then the
president, and It was investigated by
him. and the conclusion he came to was
this:
There are no facts which give any sub
stantial foundation for the apprehension
of the petitioners that this gas is in any
way more dangerous than the gas
previously in use
Prof. Morton's Changed View.
That was the conclusion he came to-
and that. so far as the board OF health
of New York was concerned. was the end
of 1t. Prof Morton. who was the presi-
dent OF the Stevens Institute OF Tech
nology at Hoboken. was man very emf
nent in his profession. chemistry and
physics. and a man who did a great deal
of work in this particular line. When
the question first came up President Nor
ton was rather inclined to be on the
other side-that is. / mean, on the side
looking upon carbonic oxide in gas az
very injurious-that is. water gas should
not be allowed. He wrote In the Sanitary
Engineer of the 18th Of January. 1880, as
follows:
81 am quite ready to admit that when
the subject first came to my notice my
impression was that water gas was SO
practically dangerous ION account OF the
large amount of carbonic oxide in iD that
1t should not be admitted into general
use; but further consideration modified
this view to the belief that it would be
question of economy and efficiency simply
whether water gas did or did not become
the gas of the future.
Hearing Before Legislature.
have here a copy of the hearing be-
fore the committee on manufactures OF
the Massachusetts legislature. The petit
tiOnar- in that stated hE DR..
Barker already asked for the repeal OF
a law practically fixing the maximum Of
carbonic oxide in the gas distributed in
the state of Massachusetts to 10 per cent
This is the report of that hearing, and
quote from page lis a letter from Dr.
Edward Franklin. professor or chemistry
of the Royal College OF Chemistry i'm
London, whose opinion had been asked
in this matter Of water gas He says:
Having been called upon to express
my opinion as to the adaptability OF water
gas for lighting and heating purposes L
have no hesitation in saying that IL may
be used with safety, both In public build
ings and private houses. j should be de-
lighted to substitute this pure and power
full illuminating agent for the gas with
which my house in London is at present
supplied, although it is used In all the
bedrooms
I have one more quotation that 1 would
like to bring before the committee. That
member of the French Institute. profess
sor of the school of medicine and science.
in Paris. Speaking on this point. he
says:
mo doubt the danger of poisoning exists
with all gases containing carbonic oxide:
and coal gas is not exempt from the
latter as it can contain as mucn as IL
per cent of it's volume. But i think that
the danger which could only have SAD
consequences in exceptional cases, and
through a sort of fatality. has been
exaggerated and should not be taken
into account considering that gas is USED
without hesitation for lighting our houses.
notwithstanding the very real danger or
explosion and fire, no matter what KIND
of gas or its composition.
never been prohibited In France, and n
the numerous processes which have been
indicated for its production have been
abandoned, or have received only re-
stricted application, tha cause is prln-
cipally due to the circumstance that the
technical and economical conditions OF
the production here have, up to the
present time, been very unfavorable.
"In manufacturing. under good condi-
tions gas remarkable on account OF
its illuminating power, and OF sufnclent
smell to reveal its presence, you nave
realized an important progress
Endless Opinions Possible.
have an almost endless multiplication or
opinions like this. L have quoted from
men recognized the world over as very
eminent in their speciality.
Tho committee has had suggested to