The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-05-21
Commissioner Heron Resort,
to Sherlock Holmes
Methods. j
CITY TESTER TELLS TALE
Pressure Now Almost Down to
Franchise Stipulation--No
More Waste Gas. 4

Constant hammerinE has at last re-
duced the pressure In the gas mains
OF the Chattanooga Gas company to
within one-half inch of the superior
unit OF the company's franchise. How
ever. II In not Yet within its franchise.
but Will probably be hauled there soon,
Such Ia the information that came out
In the commissioners meeting Tues
day afternoon at the city hall.
As has been many times published,
the franchise limits OF the gas COM
pany IN n minimum OF IL inches 10
u maximum OF 3 inches.
| The burners and gas fixtures In the
| city OF Chattanooga are designed for
pressures within the above limits. IL
the pressure goes higher, these low
power burners merely waste gas with
| out gaininf In heat units.
In explaining the matter. one OF tho
| city hall officials referred TO the argu-
| mont OF the Chattanooga Gas company
that the pressure could be regulated
by the valves In the gas burners. This
argument In perfectly true" said tho
official. but the trouble Ii the house
wives. and especially the negro serv-
ants. do not know enough To control
the gas pressure by valves and thus
obtain the greatest degree OF heat.
When a servant hears q loud blowing.
| abe thinks she 10 getting lots OF heat"
explained the oiiicini. sshe doesn't
know she In wasting gas"
| ApropoB OF this point, the official
exhibited the following extracts from
| standards of Gas Service" issued by
tho government printing Office at
Washington:
Pago 81, Paragraph i--"ordinary
gas burners for both stove and mantle
lights are designed for use at a pres
sure OF TO Q inches. II higher pres
surea are used. readjustment or re-
placement OF gas outlets with those OF
smaller size IN necessary"
Paragraph 3--"The ordinary gas
consumer cannot be trusted TO regu-
late his appliances when pressure
goes above 0 or 3 inches"
Among gas regulations found In the
book were those OF New Jersey that
gas pressure should never be less than
! 1-2 inches nor more than & Inches.
The regulation OF the borough OF Man
haitian In n minimum OF inches and
n maximum OF q.
However. as stated above. the gas
company In now within ona-haif an
inch OF Its maximum limit In It's fran
nhiae.
The method by which Commissioner
Ed Heron enforced this reduction
was n bit Sherlock Hoimosy. Owing
% constant gas complaints OF over
! pressure. and was assured that tho
PRESSURE was not too high.
commissionsr Sherlock.
on Feb. "a the commissioner In
tailed gas pressure gauge In the
flee OF T. n. Mahoncy. scnler OF
'eights and measures for the city and
ounty. A continuous hourly record OF
ns pressure day and night was taken
nd filed In the seaier's ONCE from
nat date to this. During that time
he pressure ran ne high nE eight
,ches. What prcsHures the gas COM
any pressed into Its mains before
rat is unknown.
No warning was given the gas COM
any OF tho presence OF the pressure
tuge until about ten days ago. Then,
n somewhat dramatic scene. the fact
lat their pressure had been checked
I'd niod was discovered 20 the gas
'mpany In tho commissioners ONCE.
was like n bolt from a clear sky
~ the Ens pressure IN the city mains
nee that exposition has. like the peril
nkle In kiplinE's poem, "shrunken
Wy up n sewer" To drop poetry. n
~ come down 20 f-s inches, as
own by Tuesday mornings reading.
The Big Push.
Human curiosity searches tho ra-
nal In all things. and Commissioner
&. Betteftoh. IN MS report bttoro
. commissioners meeting last Tues
v. unawarcdly gave a possible ex-
lnatlon why the Chattanooga Gas
mpany clings 80 lecch- like 20 super
Inchise preAsurts. The company
In its gas 10 the public at Si.i0 per
90 cubic feet. The company obtains
gas from tho Chattanooga Coke and
y Products company for 4, cents per
20 cubic feet. Ergo the more thou
IDS of feet the company can sixz
ough the burners the merrier. al
ugh Hoover begH and McAdoo
,rtens the coal trains.
n newspaper article. Manager De-
'Ar. OF tho gas company. explained
I high pressure was necessary 90
ch certain low portions OF the city.
a personal interview he stated that
retion TO high pressure had never
n heard OF before In all his gas
wiedge; that the question had never
10 up before any gas convention.
that the whole question was en-
~ pointless and beside the mark.
ertheless. under threats OF annul-
the gas contract for breach OF
ichise by the city officials. as made