Evening star., 1933-09-29
CH|LLUM GAS TANK
HELD NECESSARY
Washington Firm Engineer
Explains Need in Hearing
at Baltimore.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO i ne 0tar
BALTIMORE, Md, September 29.-
That the conditions in Washington and
the metropolitan area as regarding gas
service are serious, due to the lack OF
storage. capacity, was the statement OF
H. c. Klein, a mechanical and electrical
engineer, the first witness examined at
the hearing this morning on the appli-
cation of the Prince Georges Gas Co.
for permission to erect storage tank
at Chillum.
Mr.. Klein. who said he had been en-
ployed for the past two years by the
Washington Gas Light Co. to make
survey of its property and facilities for
service in its territory, declared there
exists a great lack Of storage capacity,
and that the erection of an additional
tank was absolutely necessary to fur
nish adequate service.
In his testimony Mr.. Klein brought
out the difference existing between
electricity service and gas service, show
ing that an interruption in service OF
the former merely caused inconvenience
to consumers, while an interruption of
gas service was menace to both life
and property.
He referred to the recent shut-of OF
gas in Prince Georges County in which
he said that while the interruption was
only temporary, 1t was necessary for
every employe of the gas company who
could be put into service to spend
day investigating conditions in the
homes of each consumer before the
gas could be turned on again. This
condition, he said, may occur at any
time, due to the lack Of storage facili-
ties of the Washington Gas Light Co.,
as its output averages 100000 cubic
feet day, with an existing storage ca
pacity of between only 10000, 900 and
100000 cubic feet
Practically all of the morning session
was taken up with the presentation of
the case by the attorneys. John E.
Hoover Of Washington, representing the
property owners adjacent to the pro-
posed tank, and Bernard j. Flynn of
this city. who represented the De La
Sale College, and Stoddard M. Stevens
of New York City, who is representing
the Prince Georges Gas Co.
Mr.. Stevens presented letters from
j. H. Beall, mayor of Mount Rainier,
who said that after an investigation
he had found but few people in Mount
Rainier who objected to the gas tank.
In the letter, Mayor Beal declared that
when the town council first went on
record as opposing the erection it was
under the impression that the holder
"1o OAiAy OES4AA3i6 "SoSC 1OA VIC C1CS-
ton of gas manufacturing plant on
this site. After making an investiga-
ton. the mayor said in his letter, and
finding out that the plants provide
only for a storage tank, special
meeting Of the council was called and
went on record as having no objections
to its erection.
Council Files No Objection.
1aftpr hxyN
was from Thomas Kirk, mayor Of
Brentwood in which he said the erec-
ton of the tank would in no way affect
the citizens of Brentwood and therefore
the Town Council had no objection to
the tank.
Another letter presented by Mr..
Stevens was from the Chamber of
Commerce of Hyattsville and signed by
c. D. Anderson, secretary, in which it
was stated that the Chamber of Com
merce declared the erection of the pro-
posed holder was not only public
necessity, but would provide work for
a number Of men and at the same time
increase the taxable basis of the county.
Approximately SO protestants, includ-
ing a number Of women, dlled the
hearing room when the case opened
and counsel for the protestantS pre-
Sented to the commission list OF 200
names, the signers being residents and
taxpayers of the adjacent territory.
Among the protestants, who are ready
to take the stand, are M. o. Bull, who
lives on a piece of property Of IA
acres within half a mile of the pro-
posed tank; Henry Klein, owner Of 80
acres within a mile; Miss Elizabeth
johnson, owner of 16 acres, who lives
within one-third of a mile; Alexander
Guide, owner Of lis acres within one
third of mile; Ira K. Gruver, owner
of II acres, with a quarter of a mile;
Mrs. Sarah Souder, Is acres within one
quarter mile; DR.. John r. McChesmey,
20 acres within half mile; Mrs. Bertha
Krzy, representing the Height Muller
estate consisting of 70 acres, part Of
which is within SO feet of the tank;
Mrs. Madeline Hart, owner Of large
tract adjoining the site of the proposed
tank and C. c. Boarman, whose home
Is within three-quarters of a mile.
MIR. Hoover stated that the pro-
testants totaled approximately 10000
nearby property owners and residents
- follows:
Mount Rainier, $4,000; Woodbridge,
$4,000; Brookland. $4,000, and Hyatts-
Vile, $4,000. 1t is expected the COM
pany will finish its case this afternoon
after which the protestants will be
heard.