Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
Mixing Product There With
Natural Output From
Kentucky Indicated.
PIPE LINE TO BE TAPPED
IN VICINITY OF ROCKVILLE
Realization of Plans Brought
Nearer by Purchase of Virginia
City's Equipment.

A possibility that Washington's
future gas supply may come entirely
from a huge plant at Alexandria, Va,
supplemented by natural gas to be
piped from West Virginia and Ken
lucky, was forecast last night by an
official Of the Washington Gas Light
Co.
The foundation for these develop
ments already has been laid by recent
activities of the gas company Several
days ago the company purchased the
municipal gas plant of Alexandra, and
yesterday 1t was learned that a con-
tract has been awarded TO the Stand
ard Automotive Supply Co. of Wash
ington for delivery of equipment for
laying mains at various nearby points
to connect with the pipe lines from the
natural gas fields Of West Virginia and
Kentucky.
The Alexandria gas plant, it is be-
lieyed, would be used as a basis for
manufacturing by-product gas to be
pumped to Washington. mixed with the
natural gas, and then distributed to the
consumers.
Plans Are Guarded.
Gas company officials are carefully
guarding their plans. but Frank A.
Woodhead. operating vice president, adj
mitted that If a large by-product gas
plant is built in Alexandria, it could
supply gas to all of the companys
consumers.
THE acquisition of the Alexandria
property" Mr. Woodhead said, "opens
the way for a by-product plant near
Alexandria at some future date. While
there are no plans at this time, still
it is possibility that we have under
consideration.
such a plant. If it were constructed
would be in a position to supply gas
to all of our properties and would also
manufacture by-products.
Being on deep tidewater. this might
mean good deal to the prosperity OF
Alexandria and incidentally to Greater
Washington
Economies Are Seen.
Gas now sold in Washington Is car.
buretted water gas, which is somewhat
| expensive to manufacture. The by,
| product gas of the type that would b,
manufactured at the Alexandria plan
can be made for a smaller net cost be.
cause of the valuable products that car
be recovered from the distillate anC
sold. The importance of having such
a plant on deep tidewater is that lower
freight rates can be secured than Il
rail points, both for the gas coal ano
for the various by-products.
The law in Washington requires that
all gas sold in the city must have 8
heating value of 500 British therma
units-an extremely high standard sale
to be in excess of that required in anJ
other city in the country for manu-
featured gas. At present, the manu-.
featured gas is stepped up to the re-
CURED heating power by being sprayed
with crude oil. This can also be &C.
complished, however, by mixing the
gas with natural gas. which, in its pure
state, has a far higher heating value
than the 600 British thermal units
Presumably the final result of the
present maneuvers will be the set-uI
of a by-product plant in Alexandra
from which gas will be taken to the
various holders of the Washington ano
Georgetown Gas Light companies and
there mixed with the natural gas which
will soon be tapped in.
Natural Gas Soon Here.
The award of the contract to the
Standard Automotive Supply Co., was
made by the Columbia Gas and Elec-
trio Co. which is piping the natural
gas from West Virginia and Kentucky
1t is said to portend the early availa-
bility of natural gas in Washington.
Frank G.. Stewart, president of the
Automotive Co, which is located al
1900 Fourteenth street, said the con.
Germ has already delivered about $751;
900 worth of machinery at Rockville
Bellair, Conowingo and Woodstock Md
The Columbia line will extend from
the natural gas fields in Eastern Ken
lucky and Western West Virginia
northeastward to New York. The near
est to Washington that the main will
travel is Rockville, Md. The Washing
ton Gas Light Co. will tap the natural
gas at that point, and eventually use
the natural gas here in Washington.
The materials delivered for the job
are tractors, pipe laying machinery and
portable compressed air machines &C
cording to Mr.. Stewart. The main for
the natural gas will be a 20-inch pipe
At several points along the long dis
lance from the Kentucky fields there
will be booster stations TO maintain
an even pressure throughout the length
of the main.
Earlier in the Summer the Wash
ington Gas Light Co. advised the Pub
lie Utilities Commission that 1t had
contracted with the Columbia Gas g.
Electric Co. TO take ltS natural gas
here At that time it was stated b.
the company that it was expected to
have the gas available by January
next year.
The natural gas, which has a much
higher heating value than the type Of
water-gas manufactured here, will be
diluted to the present heating value
insisted on by the commission before
being distributed to consumers.