Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31
burg, Osterfeld, Drummer,


them there refer to the percentage o
water gas than can be used. or the per
centage Of carbon monoXfde in the gas
At Nice. for instance, they cannot us'
more than so per cent of water gas A
Paris it can be % per cent OF carbon
monoxide. That is practically straigh
water gas, but they do not make IL De
cause 1t is not economical to make It,
Mr. Taylor-You say those are loca
regulations?
Mr. Forstall-Yes. there is no general
law against it. Now the question o.
agitation against the use OF water gas
has been pretty we'll taken care OF
by Mr.. Barker. because there has Deen
particular agitation; that is. no I'M
portant agitation that ever came near
legislation in any state except MaSsachu-
sets, and at the present time there are
no restrictions in any state or city OF
the United States OF which am aware
nor are there any in any other countries
except as obtains In France.
Mr.. Moore-I do not want to break In
on You there excepting to ask this ques-
ton. because 1t is appropriate at lhls
time. This bill, H.R. 2653S. regulating
the quantity of carbon monoXlde IN gas
IN the District of Columbia. prohlplts any
corporation existing or otherwise. or 10
exist. from manufacturing, making, sell
ing or supplying any gas for heating OF
illuminating purposes In the DISTRICT vi
Columbia. which shall contain an excess
of ten per cent OF carbon monoXlde- Do
has any such restriction as that!
New Jersey Law.
Mr.. ForstaIl-Yes, and no. think there
is still law on the statute books OF
New Jersey which prohibits will get at
it In another way. This law is law en-
titled "An act to permit the formation OF
gas companies" and it provides the gen
cral law under which gas companies can
1,S. ,.-ith hn CT al
companies shall furnish gas which snail
not contain more than a certain amount
of sulphur per hundred cubic feet, ana
a certain amount of ammonia nor Ger
tain per cent of carbon mono%ide or ~
per cent OF hydrogen. 1t is absolutely i'm
possible TO make gas OF that kind.
Mr.. Taylor-Even coal gas?
Mr. Forstall-Even that has over 40 per
cent of hydrogen. and at the lowest
per cent of carbon monoxide That law
does not affect any OF the companies in
New Jersey. They We're Incorporated
there before the general law was passed
or after it was passed by act of the leg
islature. That law was passed. / know
by a statement of one of the men who
had it passed. to prevent the formation of
gas companies in New Jersey Under the
general law.
Mr.. Taylor-In other words, to compel
them 10 come in and form under special
charter?
Mr.. Forstall-That is right; to compel
them to come in under a special charter.
Mr. Moore-They do manufacture gas,
ferreG to. which does not come within the
limitations here.
Mr.. ForstaiI-All the gas is outside OF
that law.
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures under special
charter?
Mr. Forstall-Yes You cannot make a
gas that comply with that law, or it
was not intended
Mr. MOOre-COmply with the New Jer
sey law or with this law?
Mr.. Forstall-With the New Jersey law.
j am not certain that it is still on the
statute books, but / think it is. / do not
remember seeing that it was repealed
1T was passed quite number of years
ago. 1 think II was in 1876 that it was
passed. 1 do not know that 1t has ever
been repealed. With that exception there
Is no law that pretends to restrict and
the passage Of that bill to which you re-
ferred. Mr. Moore, would put the District
of Columbia In a position entirely differ
ent from that of any other community In
the United States.
Mr.. Moore-Do you agree with Mr.. Nc
1lhenny that the passage of this law
would practically put the Washington
Gas Light Company, as II now does bust
ness. out of business?
Mr.. ForStall-1f you were to pass that
law and make it go into force immedi-
ately, why. yes they could only supply
about one-fifth of their present business.
Mr.. Moore-That, OF course, would affect
every consumer of gas in the city of
Washington.
Mi Forstall-Unless they considered
that they had authority to circumscribe
the district around the gas works and
supply that district and let the rest of
the District of Columbia go without gas.
II they tried to supply the whole District
nobody would get gas enough.
Mr.. Sims-Does that bill read to take
effect on passage?
Mr. Tayior-If does NOT saw ar all
Mr.. sims-Then 1t would take effect
from its approval. without amendment.
Would Stop Business.
Mr.. AIoore-The point 1 had in mind
was, that here is a concern that has in
vested very large amount of money;
the money comes from stockholders in
various sections of the country. l have
no doubt some may be widows and or
phans. for all we know, who invested in
good faith. They have established this
enterprise giving n service to the people
OF Washington. The people of Washing
ton have right to complain * that Serv-
ice is not efficient here. The bill, as
these witnesses view it, would stop the
business of that company and necessi-
tate some action upon the part of the
citizens of the District of Columbia TO
obtain other service. 1t would create
great deal of confusion. If the state
ment of these gentlemen is true, the pas
sage of the bill would put the company
out of business.
Mr.. Taylor-And. according to Mr. Nc
1lhennyS statement, II would take three
years to get 1T In shape to manufacture
the other kind of gas.
Mr.. ForStail-l may state that Mr. Nc
llhenny's estimate of the cost of estab-
fishing d coal-gas plant Is very moderate
l do not think he could do IL for Sd 90 900
or S1,GV0,CCO
Mr.. AIoOre-Have you any knowledge of
the next cause of agitation I'm this par
ticUlar instance?
Mr.. Forstall-Only what ! have gather
cd from the printed copies OF the pro-
ceedinSs AT these hearings, the opinion of
The district attorney and message from
the President.
Nj. Noore-You have stated and SO
have most of the other gentlemen that
the manufacture of carbon monox!de is
general. or what YOU call carbureted wa
Ter gas: that it is general not only in
this country. but in foreign countries, so
far as they have adopted illuminants
there. and that there is no legislation
except in the one single instance which
YOU have explained. that of New Jersey,
limiting the manufacture as proposed by
this bill. That is, understand, what you
have stated substantially?
Mr.. Forstall-Yes, sir.
Deaths in Washington.
Mr.. MooTc-The basis of this bill seems
10 he, 30 far as | have been able 10
gather. that one man in Washington lost
his life by reason OF his inhalation of
what is known as carbon monoXide.