Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-29
INQUIRE ABOUT GAS
Attorneys in Case on Hearing
Interrogate Experts.
PROGRESS is VERY SLOW
Statement by One Witness Cause of
Legal Wrangle.
MEANS OF PURIFYING PRODUCT
United States Inspector Testifes for
the District of Columbia.
Situation in 1907.
PROGRESS is VERY SLOW
MEANS OF PURIFYING PRODUCT

Progress is slow in the hearing based
on the proceedings instituted by the Dis
trict of Columbia against the local gas
companies for alleged defaults in the
quality of gas during the summer of 1907
Today almost as much time was con-
sumed by the arguments of attorneys as
TO the admissibility of testimony as by
the testimony itself. The testimony which
had been expected from the Districts ex-
perts began today, when Alton u. Adams,
a gas engineer, took the stand and start
ed TO tell why, in his opinion, the methods
used in Washington do not produce what
he cons 'ders the best gas.
Mr.. Adams blames carbonic acid gas
for many sins. According to the eist of
his technical statements. there is not
a proper test in operation by the two
companies to find out whether or not
carbonic acid gas exists in the illuminat-
ing gas. Carbonic acid gas, he said, is a
dead 6as, W tn no Illuminating power, and
S great absorber of heat. For that
reason he figured that the presence of
carbonic acid gas detracts from the light
lEg power of the gas in Washington and
Georl etown. He mentioned two candle
power in general way as be ng the eX-
tent of the loss to consumers by the
presence Of carbonie acid sas.
question or Purifiers.
Passing to the question of purifiers, his
first answer caused the attorneys to
argue Assistant Corporation Counsel
Stephens asked the witness whit he
thought of the engineering followed in
the publication system in the District
Mr.. Adams replied that he did not think
the engineering was the kind that would
be adopted by any one who intended to
comply with the law.
The argument followed The reply was
finally stricken out md Mr.. Adams ex-
planned that he meant he did not an
prove of the engineering and that he
aid not think 1t was the best kind of en-
Eineering for purifying the gas. Then,
being questioned. he went on to explain
that 1t would have been better to hive
Few purifiers on the ground before the
old ones were dismantled.
According to previous testimony. it was
shown that during the summer OF 1870,
the gas companies We're making repairs
to their system of purifiers. and 1t was
during that period that the alleged de-
faults occurred.
Gas Inspector Testifies.
T.. 6. Runyan, United States gas in
spector was on the stand again this
morning. r. Ross Perry, counsel for the
gas companies, read him several ques-
tons as to whether or not Mr.. Runyan
had told officials of the gas company
that he had sought advice from Commits
sioner Mcfarland and Corporation Coun-
sci Thomas as to what practice he should
pursue in making tests-that is, should
he take the average of the results shown
at the various testing stations. or consid-
err default at one testing station to be
a default against the whole system. Mr..
Runyon said he had no recollection of
any such conversation.
Mr. Perry sought to discredit Mr. Run
vans authority. He produced a book
published in 1870. which. it was stated
was Mr.. Runyan's authority in making
gas tests. and then brought forth a book
published in 1902, which. it was said, con-
tradicted the earlier edition.
Mr.. Adams made statement at the
beginning OF the afternoon session that
brought Mr.. Perry to his feet. The ex-
pert was speaking of the candlepower of
one OF the companies, and said 1T had,
il, his opinion, allowed too little margin
for sudden change, land it has been
that way for several years"
Mr.. Perry made an emphatic objection.
Chief Justice Clabaugh cautioned Mr..
Adams to confine hir- statements to the
period i'll question, that is. the summer
of 1907, and Mr.. Perry added that he be-
lieved the witness had made the state
ment Intentionally.
Mr. Adams was cross-eXamined by Mr.
Perry. who held him down to categorical
answers, although the witness evidenced
desire to explain his statements