Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-21
Commissions Chemist Also
Directed to Make Tests of
Varying Pressures.
EXAMINATIONS SOUGHT
WEEKLY FOR z MONTHS
Two Investigations Planned to
Determine Cause of Wholesale
Complaints on High Bills.

Two more steps were taken by the
Public Utilities Commission today in
furtherance of It's investigation to de-
termine the cause of wholesale COM
plants over high gas bills.
Anxious to ascertain definitely whether
the recent introduction of natural gas
is responsible in any way for carbon
ization of gas appliances, the commits
sion requested the Bureau of Standards
to make a series of chemical analyses
of the gas being distributed In the
District.
At the same time the commission d.
rected Elmer G. >Runyan, its gas chem
list, to make at once certain tests de-
signed to show the effect on consump-
ton of gas under varying presSureS.
This action was taken in view of the
belief at the commission that the in
creased pressure at which gas Is being
distributed is unQuestionably the cause
of some of the mounting gas bills.
Writes Bureau Director.
The cooperation of the Bureau of
Standards was sought because of the
lack of equipment at the commission to
make thorough analysis Of the gas.
In letter to DR.. George K. Burgess,
director Of the Bureau of Standards, the
commission said:
THE commission wishes a chemical
analysis of the gas being distributed In
Washington.
"As you doubtless know, this gas ID
supplied through an interconnected
main system by the Washington Gas
Light Co. and the Georgetown Gas
Light Co., so that for our purposes
test made at the Bureau of Standards
or any other convenient location upon
the interconnected main system would
be satisfactory.
I'VE realize that the chemical con-
stituents of this gas vary from day to
day, depending, among other things,
upon the percentage of natural gas
being mixed with the carburetted water
gas manufactured at the companies
plants.
Want Weekly Tests.
"If you believe that it is within the
proper province Of your bureau to do
so, the commission would appreciate
having such an analysis made weekly
over period of the next two months.
We believe this would cover the period
of experimentation on the part of the
companies as to the mixtures of nat
ural and artificial gas which viii final
ly be determined upon.
IF you do not feel that such series
Of tests IS within the bounds of a rea-
sonable request, the commission will be
glad to have you proceed with one test,
advising us of the results obtained"
Mr.. Runyan was instructed to make
his tests with an ordinary gas burner.
He was told to ascertain the time re-
CURED to heat water to a temperature
of 100 degrees under varying pressures
and the amount of gas consumed at the
different preSsureS.
The commission believes that these
tests will show conclusively what effect
the high pressures are having on the
appliances OF gas consumers.
Extinguishes Flame.
The. analysis of the gas by the Blu
reau of Standards was requested as a
result OF complaints received by the
commission that pilot lights and gas
range burners were carbonizing and ex-
tinguishing the flame. The commission
thinks this condition may be due to the
mixture of natural and artificial gas
which is now being distributed through
portion OF the gas system. The nat
ural gas, it was said, represents about
Is per cent of the mixture.
Additional complaints over high gas
bills are still coming into the commits
sion and also into the Office of Rich
mond B. Keech, peoples counsel, who
announced several days ago that he had
been "deluged" with protests. In order
to get all of the protests together, the
commission and Mr.. Keech have ar
ranged to exchange copies of the CON-
plants so that each will have COM
plete file
Information Mr.. Keech said he de-
sired from consumers is the amount of
the bills in November and December,
1929, and the entire year of 1880 and
January, 1881, which will enable him
to make a fair comparison. He also
wants to know whether there has been
any change IN this period of gas appli-
anceS, personnel or general living con-
ditions, If all of this data cannot be
furnished. he said he desired as much
of it as possible.
Although the gas company has an
nounced that many of the complaints
were satisfactorily answered by the ex-
tended billing period in January, which
covered IS days, Mr.. Keech declared
that number of the protests received
in mis- Office related to December bills,
which covered a short billing period of
20 days For this reason, he thinks the
extended billing period does not COM
pletely show the reason for the higher
bills, which, in some instances, were
100 per cent in excess of average bills.
Neither does he believe that the in
creased pressure is entirely responsible
for the increased bills.
1T appears to be-" said Mr. Keech,
that there are other conditions re-
sponsible for some of the high bills. I
am not an engineer, or chemist. and
for that reason I requested the Public
Utilities Commission to have its en-
cheering department undertake a thor
ough investigation