The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-10-05
CRESCENT C|TYIS
COOKING WITH GAS
New contpany's Plant Is Com
pIeted and Product Is Turned
Into Mains With Ceremonies

ID 9 J.. q
HILo, October 2--One 81 the most
important tIansac tionsi ia the history of
this city was the turning on of the
first gas from the Hilo Gas Company g
plant this morning says the Post 20.
day. In the presence Of d score or
more of representative business men,
the ceremony began shortly after ten
o'eloek when Manager Berkeley made
an address on the manufacture of gas.
Mr., Berkeley went into detail, explain.
ing that the base upon which the manu-
facture of gas is dependent, is crude
OIL and that IL this supply can be main-
tained, there will be no difficulty in
constant supply of gas for this city.
Equipment Is Complete #r
In his address, among other things,
Mr.. Berkeley said: "Our machinery to-
day is not only absolutely complete in
every possible detail, but we have ar.
ranged Just as complete an auxiliary
which viii enable us TO continue our
service in case the operating machinery
gets out of commission, Not only this,
the present capacity is a quarter of a
million cubic feet Of gas per day and
this can be doubled with the machinery
on hand. To forestall any fear that
some may entertain in ease clouds of
smoke should be seen issuing from the
smoke stack on occasions, / want to
say that there is absolutely nothing
to alarm anyone from this fact. - =
No Trouble with Waste
" At the beginning of the organiza.
tion of this company, there was much
concern over the conditions that might
arise from the waste from the plant.
| want to say today that there will
be no more of a nuisance in connec.
ton with our presence here in one
year from today than there Is right
now. 1t is. all in the imagination.
The manufacture of gas is absolutely
free from all Objectionable matter
and the future will bear me out in this
statement" w.
Vice President j. W. Russell, follow
ed the speaker in brief address at the
nclusion Of which he introduced
Judge Quinn as the all important man
who would be the first person to send
the gas throughout the miles of pipe
to consumers about the city. Stepping
up to the big valve which held back
the fluid, Judge Quinn gave the crank
few twists, the first turn taking place
at exactly 10;49, and the deed was
done. Hilo, for the first time in the
history of its existence, had received
its first baptism of gas.
History Of Company
The Hilo Gas Company was incor-
pOrated January 3, 1917, with a capital
stock Of 100000, and bonds to the
amount of $4,000. All of the stock
is held on this island, as well as $780,
600 of the bonds, block of $4,000
of the latter having been taken by the
Home Insurance Company of Honolulu,
| which to ahrinteRts and, purposes, is
practically a local concern, as good
deal of its stock is held on this island.
1t is worthy Of note, and greatly due
to the ability of Engineer Berkeley, that
within six months to the day, after the
first material for the plant was laid on
ground, the plant stands ready and com.
| plete, the gas even turned on. In pass
ing, too, it would be only justice to
add that Mr.. Berkeley is one of the
foremost gas engineers in the United
States, which accounts for the efficiency
that has marked every step in the prog
ress Of the local plant.
Gas Is Turned On
While the first gas was actually
turned on this forenoon, there was gas
manufactured late Saturday afternoon,
and the honor of lighting the first gas
jet ever lighted in Hilo, went to II.
A. Truslow, treasurer of the company,
which important fact took place at
twelve O'Clock yesterday noon. An
other remarkable fact in connection
with the plant was that the very first
barrel of oil which was used in the
plant, produced results to n degree APP
preaching the regular quantity, which
speaks further commentator for the
class of skill that went into the CON
structiOn of the machinery.
The officers and directors of the IIilo
Gas Company are ?. c. Beamer, presi-
dent; j. w. Russell, vice presidents; W.
II. Beers, secretary; II. A. Truslow,
treasurer; F. X. Greenwich, l.. s. Aug
ust and John T. Baker, directors.