The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-10

Mr. Humphreys don't know whether
they do or not; should not think. so
But the government inspector may charge
don't know how that is.
Mr.. Cary-Just one more question. In
answer to your statement just made. ]
will also call your attention TO Mr. Casey,
who runs a saloon at Fourth 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. lie has got to close at L
O'Clock.
Mr.. Humphreys-No that is a ques-
ton OF scientific accuracy of statement,
and we know that where scientific in
struments are used and scientific OBJ
servers are employed you have to
be careful to make accurate statements
before you can tabulate them for COM
parison How is he going to say that he
did not use any more burners
Mr.. Cary-But he 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 10 me, Of course, and we are
always told that we are wrong. but as "a
rule il cannot be so demonstrated. Most
Of the statements are made rccIlessly
without any attempt having been made
to keep a record Of the facts as would be
required IN a court of law.
Mir. Wiley-I only heard it casually. as
we all probably did here but it struck
me that the ratio there was changed be-
cause OF the longer night: IN other words,
in the months Of December. January, and
February more gas viii be burned. while
the other months are probably more uni
form. l would like to ask If that is true
And then l would like to ask whether
use Of burners steadily without having
the lava tips inspected and either taken
away or repaired does not result in
waste Of gas which goes through the
meter. and for which the man gets no
benefit Is not that correct?
Mr.. Humphreys-Ce sir.
Mr.. Wiley-I think all companies use
the same lava tip. and IL they are net
inspected OF cared for. that they Will burn
more gas. and that you viii get less light.
MI Humphreys-It is absolutely so, so
much so that we are constantly urging
our consumers 10 watch that particular
point. You can readily gee that gas
cannot take care OF 5000 con-
sumers in that respect, they cannot go
through all OF the houses and see the
condition Of the burners. and In many
cases il would be resented If we did. But
We have to depend upon tie complaint
of the consumer. don't know of a gas
company in the United States to-day that
Is not rendering a great deal Of service
without charge In answer TO complain
ants. and it is one of the large items Of
expense, too. But these complaints de-
pend upon the initiative Of the consumer.
The condition Of the gas consuming ap-
pliances has every thing 10 do with the
quality Of the service obtained.
Mr. Wney-I have just had this very
experience. and that is the reason
why I brought it up. I had the same
impression that these other gentlemen
have had. I found my gas bills running
very high. and was certain, Just as they
are. that we we're not getting any more
light. So / notified the gas company in
East Orange. where / lived; they sent
man down. who inspected the burners.
took of the defective tips. and furnished
me with new tips. That remedied the
trouble
Mr.. Cary-Mr. Bride is an expert in gas.
and I would Ike to have him answer
your question.
Mr.. Bride was in the gas business in
and I want 70 say that
four-foot burner burns four feet an hour.
and a three-foot burner three feet an
hour, providing they don't put on any
extra pressure.
Mr. Wiley-But that IS not what I am
.alkng about
Mr.. Bride-And. OF course. II the burner
S stopped up. you cannot burn as much
gas.
Mr.. Wiley-Of course, if you turn on
he burner full, the gas flares up
Mr.. Bride-That is a four-foot burner.
md you viii burn four feet there, and
T.
-ou viii burn three feet
MI Wiley-Mr. Humphreys has dis
inctly covered my point.
Mr.. Humphreys-Mr. Chairman. 7 would
Ike to answer Mr.. Bride, as an expert,
{ you viii pardon me; and the state
nent as to burners made by Mr. Bride
ust now conclusively proves that his
irst statement, namely. that he IS an
expert, is not correct. Il is not true
hat sO-called four-foot burner burns
our feet an hour, or that a three-foot
burner burns three feet. or that a two
DOT burner burns two feet. That IS the
'oughest kind Of an indication as to what
burner viii use If you try these
turner's, labeled in. certain way, and out
II the same package, you will find that
hey viii not burn exactly the same
mount OF gas. They almost invariably
burn more gas than Is indicated BY the
referred to. You cannot use
i burner. as Mr. Bride states, with such
rich gas as IS supplied in Washington
md get maximum results If you burn
My three feet an hour. It is one Of the
Elementary principals Of gas consumption
hat the size Of the burner must be Sc
ected with regard to the quality Of the
.as. and the higher the quality the
mailer, Of course. will be the capacity
# the burner for a maximum efficiency,
md it is only when you get very high
Iuality of gas, such as oil gas of so
andle power. as used by the Pintisch
light Company, where they must get the
Teatest amount of illumination in the
smallest volume. that they get down to
hese very small burners. If you take
he ordinary gas, you get the best re-
ults by using large burner with free
,urning tip. We know scientifically that
he most economical consumption to the
consumer. the hest economically. renr1ires