The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-30

in reference to the relative cost you
speak Of, you have in mind the econ I
omies Of using coke In the water gas
process, have you not, Of using the two
together rather than the economies Of
two separate propositions?
Would Require New Plant.
Mr BARKER-Yes; that is TO say.
using a mixed gas, as understand is /
the case In this city. It is very likely
that the two gases are very closely
equivalent IN cost. but # YOU were to
make either of them exclusively,
should expect to find the cost increased,
and very largely increased If il were
TO be exclusively coal gas.
Mr.. SIMS-In other words. II this bill
I is passed limiting the carbon mOnoXide
/ 20 10 per cent making II impossible 10
use water gas, then the cost OF coal gas
will be higher than the cost OF that the
company can furnish at the present
Mr., BARKER-Yes, and the candle
power lower. AS d single Illustration
/ it has been number OF years since
saw the Washington gas works, ana
/ they are probably so changed thdt 1 90
/ not know much about them now ana uo
/ not assume tO-but If they are making
/ a mixed gas os the percentages tnat
/ have been stated here, should eXpeCl
! that If they were required 10 make d
/ coal gas. Il would require a very SUD
/ ment to construct the works 10 Deslh
/ with.
Cost for Installation.
/ Mr.. SIMS-Theu. would the current ez-
/ peuses of manufacturing gas after the
works had been changed be greater also
/ Mr.. BARKER should expect they
/ would be somewhat greater.
! Mr.. SIMS-In other words, they could
/ not furnish gas to the consumer as
cheap as they can if the present method
I is continued
/ Mr.. .BARKER-I should expect not.
Mr. SIMS-I am asking you these cues
| tions because we have before US biils
/ TO reduce the price Of gas. / wanted 10
know what bearing II would nave on
that.
/ problems in respect to the price OF coal
gas is governed by the market FOR the
/ residuals. coke and tar. but u eXclu-
| siVely coal gas were 10 be MADE IN a
/ city Of this size, / should expect IL would
! be very difficult to make good market
/ for the coke and that would seriously
anect the net cost Of the coal gas
Mr.. SIMS-And the retail price to the
consumer is affected 10 that extent?
Mr.. BARKER-I think that would FOL
Mr.. sIAIs-But as between economy
and safety, life and health you woui9
advise us to take the side OF life and
health?
Mr.. BARKER-Yes. sir: if it can be
clearly shown that 1t exists, which we
have not been able to ind.
Explains His Presence.
Mr.. sI2IS-Dfd the chairman OF the
committee request your presence. OF
how are you appearing That has nc
erect on your testimony, but It Is vel
enough to know.
/ Mr.. BARKER-I supposed
Mr.. SIMS-I do not know whether yoJ
> / were a committee witness or witness
right TO invite them, and we want It L
, do so It Is no reflection for II TO DO 50
Mr. BARKER received a letter from
the chairman Of the committee request
o. ing me TO come. 1 was asked 10 attenC
by a representative Of the company, bp
: / / said 7 would not come
, Mr.. SIM5-And then the chairman re-
G QuesJed you 10 come?
70 Mr.. EARKER-yes, sir.
r Mr.. SINS-Tken you are entirely dis
Z / interested. as you are invited on bOtf
70 sides. L mean disinterested, 50 tar AZ
coming before the committee disinter
T nsted in every respect. You are not
[ volunteer witness In any respect.
Y Mr.. TAYLOR-He stated exactly how
S he came. end ! do not think you nee1
y / discuss II any further. Il is n the rec
, ord that ne strted exactly the mdhhe
e in which ne came.
,: Mr.. Loves Testimony.
e Following is the testimony OF Mr.
r Love:
e Mr.. LOVE- am a chemist by profes
sion. and for something over 80 years
- have been gas commissioner for tn
y Ifcity of New York
MIR. TAYLOR-You may state. Nj
Love lust how you came before tn
, cOmmittee-at whose invitation?
\ Mr.. LOVE-The invitation OF IN
:. Washington Gaslight Company.
\, Mr. TAYLOR-As l stated BEFORE
= is our custom TO let any statement b
N made. and not TO interrupt any NOR
than we can help until the conclusIo
. of the statement. You may pIoCeSu-
- MT LOVE-The first water-gas plan
IL ! egta bIished in this country was IN 80
- I al PhoenixvIue, Pa II was then a
- entirely new departure In the manuIdg
" ture OF Illuminating gas. Two yea
r. later the Municipal Gaslgnt CoHlpaA
~ of New York took up the process an
a commenced 10 supply what IS common pa
| known as Illuminating water gas. III
~ success which the Munlclpal company
/ product met with IN Ne" 10TH wa
= verv pronounced from the start, an
h within two OF three years us anhua
I OUTPUT had increased TO something owe
a- $50 90. 600 feet OF gas. -
n The introduction or THIS process
making Illuminating gas, l think. ca
NJ / he safely said to be the greatest 40
~ vance in the manufacture or ulumlha
= inc gas iu the last century. NOthln
~ has had a greater influence on the SUI
. iect OF artificial illumination.
to Defines "Water Gas"
The term water gas has been use
X before the committee, and ] think pei
al baps Il may be we'll. unless the con
10 nittes thoroughly understands ina
y, natter. 70 now define the difference bs
be tween ordinary water gas, that Is VIVA
Il we mean as carbureted water gas an
re water gas, what the gas man knows
Ie blue gas. nice.
as nrobablv understands by this time
u 1ade bv passing superheated steaI
u over incandescent carbon. This break
- nm tina steam, the carbon taking u
g 05vgsn OF the water. or OF the steam
f-seinE carbonic oxide, and leaving a
hydrogen Of the steam fTees 50 tnaL ~
rI1fSCed gases are carDontc oxide an
as bvdrOgen, roughly IN equal quahtltle
"a This fame burns with blue color,
," ls practically odOriess. and the he'
~ stem would be to give that It's illumlna
inc properties. This IS effected by intI'
H. 6ncing naphtha or oil, and that stas
l 40 Tod M