The Washington herald., 1909-01-01


the citizens Of the District brought to
light yesterday. indicate that the city IS
being lighted. and in many cases heated,
by a gas that is at least 50 per cent
water gas" and containing from 20 to
s. per cent OF deadly carbon monoxids
gas.
From the legal department Of the Dis
trict it was learned that uLder the pres
ent statutes and regulations the citizens
have no recourse and must look 10 Con-
gress for the necessary regulation and
safeguards
Different in other Citfes.
IN few cities in the world. it is al
legged. is the gas furnished Of eomblna-
ton containing such a high percent
age OF carbon mOnoxide. In many cities
regulations are in force 10 keep down
the percentage Of water gas" in use.
and in other cities water gas" Is not
allowed 20 be used ar all
n the opinion Of experts water gas"
contains al least FIVE times the quantity
OF carbon monoxide as does ordinary
coal Gas. The water gas however.
fulfIls all the requirements Of the stat
Utes and fulfIls the requirements OF the
company's charter. and unless Congress
comes 10 the rescue legal experts say the
citizens can do nothing but protest and
assume the risk involved IN the use OF
such gas
Better in Georgetown.
II was further learned that the gas
furnished the citizens Of Georgetown is
far less dangerous than that furnished
residents on the east side Of Rock Creek
The. gas used in Georgetown is made by
an entirely different process from that
manufactured By the Washington Gas
light Company, being coal gas, the fumes
Of soft coal, mixed IN the making by
special process with OIL thus forming q
gas that contains q very small percent
age Of monoxide gas.
The gas furnished residents Of Washing
ton proper is made by allowing steam
10 come in contact with glowing beds Of
burning hard coal or coke The gas gen
Grated in this way Is carbon mOnoxids
and hydrogen To make this product
adaptable for lighting purposes it Is car
bureted. by adding OIL
Gas Inspector Elmer Runyan said last
night that large proportion OF the gas
used IN Washington IS water gas" This
gas, he said. contains a very much higher
percentage Of poisonous fumes than coal
gas or oil gas. He explained the methods
used in making the gas and said on a
number Of occasions he had been forced
20 send special notices 10 the gas com
pany, warning It that the gas was fall
ing below the standard required.
Company Was Warned.
About a year ago" said Inspector /
Ranyan, the gas fell so far below the
standard that suit was Instituted against
The company by the District The action 1
Is still pending II varies and many
times is far above the average required. !
and at other time falls far below. that IS.
as regards the candle power"
Continuing. Inspector Runyan said tha. 1
water gas makes a much brighter
light than coal gas. OF gas generated /
from ccsI with the aid OF oil Water 4
gas, he said. burns a bright white 4
fame Il Is not 50 large as the fame 4
OF other gases but gives better light /
The fame OF coal gas is large and yeI- /
loEish."
E H Thomas. corporation counsel (
said yesterday that ne knew OF no law
under which proceedings might be
brought against the gas company. There 1
might be room for civil action. where
deaths had resulted from the fumes Of /
carbon monOxide. generated from the gas
furnished BY the Washington Gaslighti
Company.
Law in the Case.
The law covering the quality OF gas 10
be furnished the District is embodied in
section Of the Revised Statutes, which
reads:
That ssction q an sc1 entitled. An Al rer7-
latins gas works" approved June 2 Is7s Is s-7e75-
ed 50 as 70 rad follows That from and zfrs-
June y, ls96. the Illuminating power of tbs zas
furnisneo o any s2slight oonpsny. psrsoa OF per
sons IN The District Of Columbia shau Be equaI 70 I
twenty-five candles By The Buuseu photonster u,snz
the Brzy sit union burner numbered sever cons-r5
ms I've cubic feet Of EEs DR. hour and such rSs
shall not contain uoTe thai twenty Trzius of sri
phuT II s1J form II one hundred cube feet Dor
more than five grains Of ammonia IN suy form in Z
ere hundred cube feet, and shall be free Of TIA i'm
purity known as sabEhurste6 hydrcEsn' said IN
purity 20 Be determined b passing ths Ess tro-,-h
glass vessel containing strus Il bFEzsJars rars-
moize1ed with solution of tie acetate OF LEAD
snd azy discoaorstso- q the test pazs- i found
70 have taken place. this IS to be held conclusive
a. 70 the presence Of sulpdu7eted hydrogen IN the
"a
When the Illumination Ess supplied by any con-
pzuy person O. persons II the District of Cyour1
Hta sail az any tine be of less fII77uinz+f7z
power OF o. less purity than according p. ths sss15
ard Just heretofore giTsn il shall be 50 rsro-ted
b. The Inspector q Eas and meters 20 the cousrv
iperson OF peTsous supplying the sane who shall Be
suoect . penalty Of 500 10 Be recovered before
the proper tribunal and paid into the trz-rv Of ths
District Of Columbia Aforesaid for each and erery
day during which such violations shall continue
Provided. however. t1-t e Il shall appear that such
dsFiatious from The aboTe-nsmed standards could
not have heen prevented hy ordinary cars and mn
dsnce. but was occasiooed by some unaToidabls
rAussz thsn tie sad penalty sh2n lot be enforced
Act Was Amended.
This act was amended in the corpor-
alton act OF March 3. 1905. TO read:
And hereafter the illumination power q q, f,-- !
nshed hg any SasllzhtinE company. person OF per-
sons IN the District q Columbia shaG Be egusI 70 !
2 candle p0EeT
This regulation is enforced by the gas :
inspector. who daily makes tests OF the
gas furnished the city. and forwards re-
ports 10 the gas company. II
That section OF the charter Of the I
Washington Gaslight Company relating $
70 the quality Of gas furnished the Dis {
trict is found in volume 3 section :. OF I
the United States Statutes at Large II 7
reads: i
And be = further enacted, That ths president ard
direo@s shan have ful power and authority to
Hauuscture, nass. ard sell gas 20 be made q coal
OIL tar peat pitch tuTuentine OF other ms-
teTtals to be used for the purYcse Of Eghtuz the
CITY q Washington O. the streets thereof and auv
buildings. manufactures. OF horses therein con- :
tanned and strate and 70 ls5 pipes fc= the pur- :
pose q canduCtng Eas N any Of the streets ave
6aly One "BRoMo oURINE. "TEss D :