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

per cent of carOureted water gas. Along
that same line I have some figures from
Chicago which are not as recent as those
from Baltimore, because since 1889 there
has been no coal gas distributed in Chi
cago, but have figures for the five years
1885 to 1890, inclusive. in which quite
considerable proportion. although l can
not say exactly how much. Of the gas
distributed was coal gas. The company
with which 1 was connected in Chicago
at that time was making all coal gas UP
TO 1887 and then almost entirely coal gas
up to 1889. and they supplied about two
thirds of the total supply OF the city OF
Chicago. For those five years the aver
age number of deaths per year from as
phyxiation OF all kinds, from all kinds OF
noXious gases not entirely illumina ting gas.
but largely illuminating gas, was 43 per
year per hundred thousand Of population
From 1893 to 1897. inclusive, during which
time the supply of gas was entirely water
gas. tie average number OF deaths per
hundred thousand of population WAS "a
per cent a year. decrease OF nearly
one death per hundred thousand Of popu-
lation, In spite of the increase, or con-
currently with the increase. to one
hundred per cent of carbureted water
gas.
Deaths Were Accidental.
Mr.. Mcore-Those were accidental
deaths?
Mr.. Forstall-Yes, those were acct
dental deaths. l have eliminated suicides
In all OF my figures.
Mr.. Thomas-Where are those reports?
Mr.. Forstall-The Chicago figures are
taken from this report to which 1 referred
yesterday, this report of the committee
appointed by the English board of trade
in 1899. They are taken from Appendix 6:
The figures AS TO the proportion of coal
gas to carbureted water Gas are not
given. ] happen to know that. because
was connected with the Chicago COM
pany.
lished, then? They are not in any publi-
cation whatever, the figures you gave
from Chicago.
Mr.. Forstall--The figures as to deaths
and population are published. but the In
formation as to what kind of gas was
being distributed is not published. That
can be looked up by going through
Browns Directory of Gas Companies for
the different years.
Mr.. Goldsborough-That would not give
the proportion, though.
Mr.. Forstall--That would not give the
proportion, no.
Mr.. Thomas-This is simply from your
recollection, then. that you are testifying
about the proportion.
Mr.. ForStall-Yes. from my knowledge
of the situation. l was employed with
the largest company in Chicago from 1855
to 1890.
Mr.. Thomas-I want to say to the COM
mittee that L am only asking these qces-
Murphy for the first time this morning
that the committee expected that the
Commissioners would take part In this
investigation. ! understand that is the
case, and OF course the Commissioners
may desire to be heard and to furnish
testimony. If this is to be an ex parte
investigation just for those persons who
desire to come before the committee and
desire to be heard, the Commissioners
may desire to be heard. OF course. If it
is a committee investigation, the Com
missioners do not feel that they have
any right to be heard unless the COM
mittce desires them to. and that has
been my understanding of the situation.
Not Committee Bill.
Mr. Murphy-I think the counsel mis-
understood a little the statement 1 made
What I intended to convey to him was
this-that this was not a. bill that was
prepared by the committee. but the mat
ter was brought before us. as 1 under
stood, coming from the Commissioners
and l understood that they were eX-
pected to present testimony here.
Mr.. Moore-You gentlemen have been
hero more consistently and constantly
than l have. Has there been any discus
sion of this question before?
Mr.. Thomas-No.
Mr.. Sims-There has been no committee
action at all, but there has been a liber-
ality INDUCED i'll allowing any one who
wanted to to be heard and to ask ques-
tions. and as far as am personally con-
cerned. the Commissioners are here
charged with responsibilities. think they
not only ought to have Il right. but ought
to be invited to come before the commit
tee and give the committee any informa-
ton that they have, through themselves
or otherwise.
Mr.. Murphy-I certainly do.
Mr.. Sims--And l think the same way
about the gas company.
Mr.. Murphy-Counsel for the gas COM
pany has appeared here and been per-
mitted to ask questions of persons who
have appeared before the committee.
Mr.. Sims-4>ot only permitted, but in
viteG
The Clerk of the Commttee-Perhaps /
can make little explanation which will
clear up this matter. When the first
hearing was to be held Mr.. Smith asked
me to notify the Commissioners and state
that the committee would be pleased to
have them appear. They all responded
that they were engaged with the commit
tee on appropriations of the Senate and
could not appear. I did not understand
that Mr.. Smiths instructions to me were
of continuing nature. and / gave them
no notice of yesterdays proceedings.
During the proceedings Commissioner
Mcfarland telephoned me and said he
ldu DedFu tildl there were proceedings VI
this kind. and I said there was hearing
then in progress and he said they had re-
ceived no notice. OF course l did not
stop to discuss the matter very much over
the telephone then, but after the adjourn
ment / notified Commissioner mcfarland
by telephone that We had adjourned over
until today. and that l suppose is the
reason that Mr.. Thomas is here.
Mr.. Thomas-Yes. l would not have been
here unless 1 had been notified, because
l did not know that there was 10 be
session yesterday, and I did not think
had any right to come unless l was asked
to come.
The Clerk of the Committee-As I say,
did not understand that there was any
order made by the committee that would
require me to notify the Commissioners.
Acting Under Instructions.
MI Sims-You were acting under the
instructions of Mr. Smith, the chairman
OF the committee?
The Clerk of the Committee-Yes.
Mr. Murphy-I think the Commissioners
ought to be represented here. This comes
to us by message from the President and
by request of the Attorney General and
of everybody else, to bring this matter
here and there is nobody TO represent the
public unless the Commissioners Of this
District are looking after It.
Mr.. Moore--I think every member OF the
committee is representing the public, 10
the best of his ability.
Mr. Murphy--To the best OF his ability.
Mr. Moore-There Is no intention on
the part OF any member OF the committee
TO be unfair.
Mr. Murphy-No, l do not think there