Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-28
Federal Engineer Reports to
Gen. Patrick on Natural
Artificial Combination.
BUREAU TO TAKE OVER
TESTS BEGUN BY RUNYAN
Experiments Started by Commits
sion's Engineer Will Show Effect
Of Pressure on Consumption.

The combination of artificial and
natural gas now being distributed over
a portion Of the District gas system
has made necessary the reimbursement
OF all gas appliances using the mixture
in order to get proper combustion, ].
H. Eiseman, gas engineer Of the Bureau
Of Standards, today told Mai Gen.
Mason NJ. Patrick, chairman OF the
Public Utilities Commission.
Mr.. Eiseman conferred with Gen.
Patrick for more than an hour in his
Office in the District Building, going
over various phases of the investiga-
ton of the gas situation which the
commission requested the Bureau Of
Standards to make. because 1t does not
have the proper laboratory equipment
to undertake the various tests.
Will Test Appliances.
The Bureau of Standards, 1t was an
nounced. not only will make q series
Of analyses to determine the effect Of
the mixed natural and manufactured
gas on different types Of appliances,
but also will take over the tests started
by Elmer Runyan, the commissions gas
engineer, to ascertain the effect Of
varying preSsureS on gas consumption.
Mr.. Runyan was unable to complete
his tests, it was said, because gas pres
sures in the commissions laboratory did
not exceed inches. whereas the conf
mission was particularly anxious to
| learn the effect on consumption Of
pressures ranging between and II
| inches. the scale of variance found by
| Bert H. Peck, chief engineer of the COM
| mission, in his recent pressure survey OF
| the gas distribution system. The Bu-
reau of Standards therefore, was re-
quested TO take over this phase of the
investigation and complete 1t.
Carbon Trouble Studied.
The analysis Of the mixture of
natural and artificial gas was sought
by the commission to show whether
| the combination Is causing the car
bonization of gas appliances Com
plants had been made to the commits
sion that carbon deposits on pilot lights
and burners had extingliielled the
flame thus creating potential danger
| to gas consumers.
The pressure tests the commission
believes will show whether the excessive
pressures found in the gas distribution
complaints over high gas bills.
Mr.. Eiseman told Gen. Patrick. how
ever, that he did not believe that an
3-inch pressure would cause any in
| crease in gas consumption, II appliances
are adjusted TO operate efficiently ct
that pressure.
Maj. Patrick pointed out. however,
that gas appliances had not been ad-
justed for the higher pressures, but
that reports from the gas company indi-
catzd that this work is now being done
extensively, as result of the commits
sion's order.
Keech Reports Complaints.
In view of the information given
Gen. Patrick by Mr.. Eiseman. it was
indicated that the commission will con-
tinue to push the gas company vigor-
ously until all appliances are read
justed to operate efficiently on the g.
inch pressure recently allowed. Spe-
cial attention, 1t was said. must be
given consumers whose appliances are
burning the mixed natural and arti-
fictal gas
While Gen. Patrick was comforting
with Mr.. Eiesman. Richmond 3. Keech,
peoples counsel. who Is conducting an
independent investigation of the gas
situation. turned over to the commission
a file containing SO Of the written COM
plants over high gas bills received at
his Office.
Mr.. Keech told the commission he
did not believe that these complaints
we're explained by the extended billing
period and, therefore. should be inves-
tigated to determine the cause of the
excess.