Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-01

nately discovered the oder of gas and
located il next morning without light.
Had the furnace been lighted there would
certainly have been an explosie which
would have wrecked the house soon
the gas got of sufficient density il tie
room.
II complained To the gas company. and
the meter was consequently changed a
couple of days later. have had better
service since that time. but never do I
have sufficient light tn read by between
the hours of about > and i'm The even
ing"
Il have complained to the company
since. The last inspector informed me
that all he could do for me was To report
conditions: that the meter was in perfect
condition. and that when cold weather set
in there would be still less pressure he
cause of the drain on the serv &C. due TO
heating appliances being in use.
Mr.. Taylor-How far is Takoma Park
from the main plant Of the company"
Mr.. lie Clerc--I think we generally con-
slider 1t five or six miles from the city. I
do not know where the main plant of tie
company is. Perhaps MIR. Goldsborough
could tell.
Mr. Goldsborough-There are two plants.
supplies us.
Mr.. Goldsboroueh-They both supply
you: the mains connect the two. You are
about seven or eight miles away.
MI lie lterc-NO, not above SIX ntleS-
Do you mean from your plant?
Mr.. Goldsborough-From the one on the
river. You are at least seven miles.
Mr.. lie Clerc-Here is letter from Mr..
Lewis Riggles in which he says:
'One evening about November I. on ar
irving home. I noticed the odor Of gas IN
entering our house. Going to the kitchen.
where the dinner was being prepared. |
examined the gas range and found the
oven with the gas on, but not burning.
10
when the gas goes out do not notice tie
gas escaping. because ii Is so gradual:
but people entering from the fresh air
do notice 1t. and there is where the dan
ger comes in. for people-childrer VIII"
may be in the rOom-if they did notice
it, they would not pay any attention to it.
1.-The gas was being used on top or tho
stove, and had not the condition OF INC
oven been discovered at the time an eX-
plosion would have in all probability
taken place with serious results. as the
family was gathered around the stove
waiting dinner
More Letters Quoted.
Here is letter from Mr.. Morrison.
who has charge of one of the divisions 81
the bureau of plant industry. i'm which he
says:
The flow of gas is poor. having gone
out more than once in my range. Cook
ing WIN gas Is diih"s' ihPoeHi''o a.
times.
| would like to know whether the
gas company could he held responsible or.
rather liable. for any damages resulting
from an explosion due to above.
I have "A letter from one % the officers
of the Bliss Electrical School. Clarence
Matthewson. in which he says:
II distinctly remember two occasions II
October when the flow Of gas ceased en-
tirely at about o'clock pm
Here is a letter from Mi. Dani Il Miller.
corner of Oak and Tulip avenues in Ta-
koma: I do not know his official capacity.
Mr.. Tayler-Possibly he Is private
citizen. G.aughter)
Mr.. lie Clerc-It may be; there are some
out there.
'.In the evening from ; to $50 the pres
sure is so low that it is almost lmpoSsl-
bic to cook with it. and repeatedly goes
out thereby endangering both lie ana
property.
A letter from Robert +. Brown. one or
our oldest and most respected citizens or
Takoma Park an employe of the Treas
ury Department, in which he says:
at is almost impossible TO cook any
meals. We have numerous gas jets GO
ing in my house. self-lighting. and they
are continually going out. and nothing
but the strong smell of gas escaping
warns of the fact. and We are cor,
stantly on the alert lest explosions should
do us serious damage. 1 consider the
present condition of things very disccui-
aging. as well extremely dangerous.
Now Mr. Chairman and members OF
the committee. those are letters which
have obtained from citizens of Takoma
Park, who have experienced gas gong
out. / have not sought TO get evidence
from people who have low gas pressure
That is universal everywhere in Takonlt
Park. and this represents only part OF
the people who have gas lights gong out.
because l could not get at them. saw
them as I was going in and out on the
street cars. but we have three members
of the committee, and each of US has mad
the experience of having gas lights 80
out.
Mr.. Taylor-Have you ever gone TO the
company yourself. or your committee:
and explained the situati ana asker
them to give you better pressure!
Mr.. LIE Clerc-I have been myself to the
gas company. aud | was not satisileo 10
see the underlngs. | was taken to one OF
the side rooms. and was shown 10 where
somebody said the secretary was-i 90
not know whether ii was the secretary or
not | told him the condition of things.
I told him, You are rendering Eoursei,
liable to damages on account or iire,
said the Bliss Electrical Schoo! has
lust burned down, and in all probability.
We have not any proofs for IT. al
all probability that was due TO the low
pressure of gas. and we are al iiabie |"
have our houses burned. besides belns
liable to health and life" He said. Wei.
we will have better service out there III
a bout ten DAYS We are building main
across 14th street to Brishtwood avenue.
and we expect all your difficulties Will be-
solved" That was the early part OF NO
yember. and | have just read to YOU a
letter written last night by Mr.. HedScock.
i'm which he says that during the past
two weeks his gas jets have gone our.
Two weeks ago three people called me up
ON the phone and said, Our gas jets nave
gone OUT how about yours? SAID,
can still see with ours. see iitt!e OH.
Rut their gas jets had gone out. and II
main. however We want main sum
cient to supply us with gas We are no.
we are not making any KICK or
the gas.
Matter Easily Solved.
Mr. Taylor-You heard the statement
Of Mr.. McIlhenny yesterday, ana he said
that matter was very easily solved. and II
there was such a lack of the pressure IL
could be corrected by larger main.
Mr. lie Clerc-I asked him that question
to bring up that point. because If he is an
engineer and a stakeholder in the com
oany. he ought to know. and ] asked him
that question to bring that fact out. be-
cause we want enough gas out there 10
cook and to read by. and We do not want
our property and lives endangered.
have Incorporated all these excerpts from
all these letters in report which | sent
TO the Commissioners of the District OF
r,ollmbia? In that report I made the suE
position that the gas pressure be limited In