Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-20
Illuminating Power at Times
Below Standard.
COMPANY MAY BE LIABLE
Runyan Submits Figures
to Commissioners.
MANY METERS ARE TESTED
An Increase of More Than 100 Per
Cent Over Highest Number Ex-
amined Heretofore.

Illuminating power of gas furnished
Washington consumers by the Washing
ton Gas Light Company during the pa st
fiscal year fell below the legal standard
of twenty-five candles on forty three DAYS
of the year. while that furnished by the
Georgetown Gas Light Company fell be-
low the legal standard on thirty-seven
days. according to the annual report of
Elmer G. Runyan, inspector of gas and
meters of the District of Columbia, sub
mltted to the Commissioners today
Penalty for failure to furnish gas of
the required standard of twenty-five
candles is fine of 500 a day. but, un-
der the law. company. to be liable to
conviction. must be guilty of furnish
ing inferior gas of inferior illuminat-
No Suit Since 1907.
In view of the difficulties attendant
upon the presenting Of evidence of this
nature. the District has entered no
penalty suit against a local gas com
pany since 1907. although the annual
reports since made by Inspector Run
van have shown that on many days gas
furnished local consumers has fallen
below the standard of twenty-five
candles
During the year SOL tests of the gas
supplied by this company. the report sets
forth. yielded mean of 22.66 candles.
which is .H of a candle above the mini
mum illuminating power allowed by law.
Three hundred and five tests of gas
manufactured and sold by the George
town Gas Light Company yielded a mean
of 22.G3 candles, which is a maximum of
1854 candles December 6. 1911. and a
minimum of 1856 candles June s, 1912.
Hydrogen Sulphide in Gas.
The element Of impurity contained in
gas known as hydrogen suphide was
found in the product manufactured last
year by the Washington Gas Light Com
pany on fifty-six days at one or more
testing stations. according to the report.
On thirty-seven days. it is stated. hy-
drOgen sulphide was found in gas sup
piled by the Georgetown Gas Light Com
pany.
The office of the inspector of gas and
meters during the fiscal year inspected
and proved -1,379 gas meters. an increase
est number inspected in any previous
year.
The report gives the following ac-
count of meter inspection work:
Meters Examined.
'Of 906 meters examined in response
to requests made by consumers sup
piled by the Washington Gas Light
Company. 457. Or 5O44 per cent, were
found to register fast, average error,
SPA per cent; IS, or III per cent, were
slow: average error, 5.27 per cent; 3S3,
or 1927 per cent, registered within the
limits allowed by law, and We're pro-
nounced correct, and one failed to reg
lister the gas passing through it.
"One thousand two hundred and nine
teen consumers meters were examined
on request of the Washington Gas Light
Company. OF these meters. 40. or 1928
per cent were fast, average error, 4.2S
per cent: IT'S, or 63.S2 per cent. were
slow. average error. 2O.43 per cent; IS. or
2.13 per cent, were correct. and 315, or
3O.76 per cent failed to register.
request of consumers supplied by the
Georgetown Gas Light Company. OF this
number, thirty-three, or 1882 per cent
We're fast average error 90 per cent
eight or 9.41 per cent, were slow. aver
age error 6.12 per cent, and forty-fOur, OIL
51.76 per cent, registered correctly, &C
cording to law.
"Of ten consumers meters inspected fOl
the Georgetown Gas Light Company
three We're found to register fast, average
error 4S9 per cent: two were slow. aver
age error 40 per cent, and five Were cor.
rect