Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-11

the figures, but could not follow 1t fast
Mr.-.Cary-Those are all the questions
that care to ask now.
+ MI. HHnphreys-WelI OF coufse,-the
only reply that 1 can make to this, Mr.
Cary. Is. the one that have already
we can all acknowledge that where we
can get thing at a cheaper rate we use
more Of it. Take. for instance, the taxi
cab rate. II it should drop down in the
city OF Washington to half the price that
Is now being paid, then we would all use
the taxicab to very much greater ex-
tent than. We do now. And I think that
10 entirely natural. OF course. I have said
where it comes to the actual question Of
the increase in pressure putting any dis
advantage upon the consumer, the only
trouble Is at the burner, and there he
can control 1t by the cock. IT you try to
burn gas under q greater pressure than
you have been burning it heretofore.
bearing in mind the particular kind of
burner that is used. and the particular
kind Of gas that is used, II you have too
high pressure. you will not get the full
economical results, OF course, and there
Is disadvantage under which the COM
pany la'bors. for different gas consuming
appliances require different pressures for
| the best results. which make 1t necessary
Tor the consumer to use some degree OF
Intelligence in controlling each burner.
The burner IS before him, he can see for
himself what happens, and according as
man or a woman takes better care of
the consumption, so will the most eco
nomical results be secured.
Now, If the trouble is one of registra-
tlol OF the meter here in Washington
you have peculiarly fortunate situation
In that respect. You have a government
inspector Of meter, and he is right here
IN the District to an intent under the
control Of this committee. He is respon-
sible for the meters and il that meter
REGISTERS CORRECTLY then the
gets the gas. A consumer has the right
to apply for an examination of the meter,
ana L have not found a company in late
years who refused any man when he
asked an examination Of the meter
Mr.. Cary-And they charge him a half
dollar for it, don't they?
Mr.. Humphreys don't know whether
they do or not; I should not think So.
But the government inspector may charge.
l don't know how that IL.
Mr.. Cary-Just one more question In
answer to your statement just made, 1
Will also call your attention to Mr. Casey.
who runs saloon at 4th and H streets
northwest. His gas bill is a great deal
higher now than it used to be and he does
not burn one more burner. does not use
one more burner. or keep open any later
He has got to close at II o'clock.
Mr. Humphreys-Now that is a ques-
and we know that where scientific instru-
ments are used ard scientific observers
are employed YOU have to be careful to
make accurate statements before you
can tabulate them for comparison. How
Is he going to say that he did not use
any more burners
Mr.. Cary-But Ne has the bills right
here
Mr.. Humphreys-But that does not show
how many burners he uses or how late
he kept his place open Those cases have
come TO me, of-course. and we are always
told mat we are wrong. but as rule it
cannot be so demonstrated. Most of the
statements are made recklessly without
On! attempt having been made to keep
record of the facts as would be re-
quired in court of law.
Mr. Wiley-I only heard II casually. as
we all probably did here. but 1t struck
cause OF the longer night: in other words
IN the months OF December, January and
FEBRUARY more gas will be burned, while
the etner months are probably more uni
form. l would like to ask II that is true
And then 1 would like to ask whether
use .of burners steadily without having
the lava tips inspected and either taken
away or repaired does no, result In a
waste OF gas which goes through the
meter; and for which the man gets no
Mr.. Humphreys-Certainly, sir.
Mr.. Wiley-I think all companies use
the same lava tip. and if they are not
inspected or cared for, that they will burn
HoIS sos, anu tu2l you Will get less light
Mr. HumIsreys-It is absolutely So SO
much so that we are constantly urging
our consumers to watch that particular
point. You can readily see that a gas
company cannot take care of $4,000 con-
surners In that respect: they cannot 20
through all of the houses ands see the
condition OF the burners. and In many
cases it would be resented II we did. But
we have to- depend upon the complaint
OF the consumer. l don't know of a gas
in thu IYnffod
Is not rendering great deal of service
without. charge in ANSWER to complains
ants. and it Is one Of the large items; of
expense. too. But these complaints de-
The condition Of the gas consuming ap-
planes has everything to do with the
quality of the service obtained
Mr.. Wiley-I have just had this very
experience. and that is the reason why
I brought 1t up. 1 had the same impress
sion that these other gentlemen have
had. 1 found my gas bills running very
high, and was certain. just as they are,
that we were not getting any more light
So l notified the gas company in East
Orange. where lived: they sent a man
down. who inspected the burners took
on the defective tips and furnished me
with new tips That remedied the trouble.
Mr.. Cary-Mr. Bride is an expert in
swer your question.
Mr.. Brfde-1 was in the gas business in
Washington. and I want to say that a
four-foot burner burns four feet an hour
and three-foot burner three feet an
hour, providing they don't put on any
extra pressure.
Mr.. Wiley-But that is not what 1 am
talking about.
Mr.. Bride-And, Of course, If the burner
is stopped up you cannot burn as much
gas.
Mr.. Wiley-of course, If you turn on
the burner full the gas flares up-
Mr.. Bride-That is four-foot burner.
and you will burn four feet there and
no more. And IT 1t is a three-foot burner
you will burn three feet
Mr.. Wiley-Mr. Humphreys has dis
tinctly covered my point.
Mr.. Humphreys-Mr. Chairman, I
would like to answer Mr.. Bride, as an
expert. il YOU will pardon me: and the
statement as to burners made by Mr..
Bride just now conclusively proves that
his first Extraordinarily. that he is
an expert, Is not correct. 1t is not true
that so-called four-foot burner burns
four feet an hour, or that a three-foot
foot burner burns two feet That is the
toughest kind Of an indication as to what
a burner will use. If you try these
burners. labeled in a certain way and out
OF the same package, you will find that
they will not burn exactly the same
amount Of gas. They almost invariably
burn more gas than is indicated by the
designation referred to- You cannot use
a burner, as Mr.. Bride states. with such
rich gas as is supplied in Washington
and get maximum results If you burn
only three feet an hour. It is one of the
elementary principles of gas consumption