Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-25

Continued From First Page)
and related matters which the commits
sion has been carrying on and which
will be continued vigorously"
Higher Pressures Blamed.
Another outstanding development in
the gas situation today was an an
nouncement by Richmond 8. Keech,
peoples counsel before the Public Utili-
ties Commission, that j. M. Nicholson,
his research assistant, has completed
an exhaustive study of gas pressures
over a five-year period, which showed
that the increased preSsures are re-
Sponsible for higher gas consumption.
Mr.. Nicholson compared gas press
ureS prevailing in october, November
and December, 1880, and January, 1881
with preSSureS in the corresponding
months of the proceeding five years
His report disclosed that the maximum
pressureS for last October, November,
December and January were far in ex-
cess of the\SiX-inch maximum formerly
allowed by the Public Utilities ComiS-
sion, especially in the Northwest and
Georgetown sections. These are the
sections from which most of the COM
plants over excess gas bills have been
received.
"The pressure at which gas is de-
livered," said Mr.. Nicholson'S report, lis
one of the most important factors in
a satisfactory service; if the pressure
is too high, the average consumer will
waste his gas by allowing burners to
blow; he will thus receive less heat
and light while paying higher bills"
Gas Flow Varied.
Mr.. NichoIson's table also shows that
the percentage of increase in pressureS
for last October, November, December
and January over the average daily
maximum for the same months of the
five preceding years was largest in the
northwest and Georgetown sections.
The average daily minimum pres
Sures for these sections for the last
three months of 1880 and January of
this year, Mr.. Nicholson reported, were
almost as much as the former six-inch
maximum allowed by the commission.
Increases in the few of gas through
an orifice due to increases in preSsures
for January, 1881" Mr.. Nicholson's re-
port declared, would be approximately
9 per cent for the central section of
the city, per cent for the southeast,
is per cent for the northwest and IA
per cent for Georgetown"
Tho citizens association, the Foxhall
Village and the Trinidad, last night
took cognizance of the gas situation
and adopted resolutions deploring eX-
ceSsive bills The Trinidad Association
also condemned the quality of gas for
Illuminating purposes.
Keech Commended.
The resolution adopted by the Foxhall
Association, commended Mr.. Keech for
MS efforts to determine the cause of
the flood of complaints over high bills
and urged him to put stop to the SEEM
ingly "unWarranted increase" Archie
K. Shipe, who introduced the resolution,
declared: Il don't mind spending
something to beautify this section, but
do object to contributing to the Golfers
of the Washington Gas Light Co."
Maj. Francis A. Englehart. another
member of the association, said he had
personally protested an increase in his
gas bill to officials of the gas company
and was told that it was due to an
extended billing period. The company
made an investigation, however, he said,
and subsequently allowed him an per
cent discount because of a fast meter.
A number of members of the asso-
citation brought their gas bills for an
extended period to the meeting TO show
the amount of the increase since the
reduction in rates last october.
The Trinidad Association decided to
prepare data for the peoples counsel
showing a comparison of their gas bills
year ago with those of recent months
George J. Cleary, president of the
organization, declared that the increase
has amounted to more than Is per cent
and the consumers are receiving a
poorer quality of gas.