Evening star., 1915-03-19
Writes Northeast Citizens AS
sociation Broadly Intimating
A. Reduction in View.
URGES USE OF MANTELS
TO OBTAIN BEST LIGHT
Admits January Output of One Com
pany Was Below Old Standard.
Defends Order.

That the recent adoption by the
public utilities commission of a regu-
lation substituting a heat standard
for the former twentytwo-candlepo
err requirement for gas furnished Dis
trict consumers was designed as the
first step toward bringing about cheap
er gas in the District is broadly intl-
mated by the commission in a letter
sent today to the Northeast Washing
ton Citizens Association.
The association had requested a re-
turn to the old Illuminating standard.
claiming that since the adoption OF
the new regulation District citizens
had been buying gas of an insufficient
Illuminating power.
Replying to the request. the commits
sion today notified the association that
it adopted the heat standard in the
interest of economy, because 'gas
is relatively less expensive to manufac-
ture."
Hints at Reduced Price.
The letter of the commission then con-
tinues with the following significant
statement:
gas should eventually be felt by the
consumers. since the law provides that
the rates for gas used in the District of
Columbia shall be fixed by the public
utilities commission, and those rates
will depend directly on the cost of
manufacture of gas
Consideration of rate questions, how
ever. will not be taken up by the COM
mission until it has completed the val
uation now being made of the proper
ties of the various local public utili-
ties, including the gas companies. This
work will last until September.
In it's letter to the Northeast citizens
body the commission points out that
there is no reason why efficient light
ing cannot be produced under the new
regulations and recommends the use of
mantle burners in the interest of good
lighting and economy.
Letter of Commission.
In this connection it states:
The fact that these regulations con-
template the manufacture in the Dis
trict of Columbia of a gas relatively
high in heating value and relatively
low in Illuminating value does not
mean that efficient lighting cannot be
produced by this gas. The modern
means of producing light from gas is
by means of incandescent mantles, and,
since the illumination from mantles is
the mantles to incandescence, the
amount of light produced varies with
the heating value of the gas rather
than with the Illuminating value. Under
these conditions it is uneconomical to
continue the use of fiat-flame burners,
and it would be greatly to the interest
of all concerned If the residents of the
District of Columbia can be persuaded
to substitute mantle burners for flat
flame burners wherever nigh lllumlna-
ton is desired.
The two gaslight companies fur
nishing gas in the District of Colum
bia realize that the change from open
flame to mantle burners will not be
made Immediately by all of their Gus
toners and that for some time to come
fat flame burners will continue to be
used to some extent. For this reason
an attempt is being made by the COM
panies to continue to manufacture for
the present gas which not only meets
the heating value standards set by the
commission, but which will also be
reasonably high in lighting qualities.
Admits Poor Gas Furnished.
THE commission makes frequent
tests for the purpose of keeping itself
constantly informed of the quality of
gas which is being furnished in the
District of Columbia. At times, espe-
cially previous to the middle of Jan
uary, the lighting quality was permit
ted by one of the gas light companies
to fall to a low value. but more re-
Gently a better lighting quality has
been maintained. During the month of
February the gas furnished averaged
between nineteen and twenty-one can
dies.
Further consideration will be given
to this matter by the commission after
the completion of the valuation and in
vestigation of the gaslight companies
now being made.