Evening star., 1942-10-28
Home Owners Warned
To Anay Gas Shortage
By Economical Use
Cooperation Relied on
To Maintain Supply
IF Winter Is Severe

The War Production Board
yesterday appealed to home own
ers to economic In the use of
gas and warned that Washington
was one of the areas in which q
critical gas shortage. may occur
If this winter is severe.
Herbert S. Marks, acting chief OF
the WPB power branch, said a
serious situation was foreseen for
the Capital If the winter is severe
and the public failed to cooperate
IN the drive to conserve gas. He
added that Washington probably
would experience no trouble if home
owners refrained from using gas
extravagantly. He cautioned espe-
cially against use of the kitchen
oven to help heat homes.
E. j. Boothby, vice president and
general manager of the Washington
Gas Light Co., said he foresaw no
serious shortage if consumers CO.
operate to a reasonable extent in
curtailing extra uses of gas. He
said the company was carrying out
an expansion program which will
increase production facilities from
about 100000 to 1876 600, 900 cubic
feet daily. Peak consumption last
winter was 10000, 600 feet day. The
anticipated peak for this winter is
about 120,OOO,0OO feet.
Normal Peak Estimated.
Mr.. Boothby made clear that the
anticipated peak consumption this
winter was based on normal de-
mands. He said that while the es-
innate allows for population growth,
it was impossible to tell the extent
OF the increased load to be carried
because of the fuel oil shortage.
Consumers probably will be asked to
go easy" in cold weather, he added
The gas company will initiate a
campaign shortly to enlist public
cooperation in the conservation
program.
During recent cool period here,
Mr.. Boothby said gas consumption
Jumped to Is per cent above the
average for the period last year.
The company attributed this to use
OF cooking ovens for heating bv
householders who were reluctant to
call on limited supplies of fuel oil.
Mr.. Marks, referring to the ma
;lonal situation, said that many
companies already are operating on
dangerously low reserves, because
II increased demands of war indus
ries, migration of workers and the
inability OF gas companies to obtain
rltlcal materials to expand present
apacity. He declared that the fuel
III shortage affected gas supplies
n two ways. It is used extensively |
n manufacture of gas. In addition.
he lack of fuel oil places an in
reased load on gas for heating.
Domestic Cut First.
Everything possible must be done,
Ar. Marks said, to make certain
hat vital war industries receive all |
he gas they, need. If shortages
ccur. domestic users WiMtbe cut off
irst,, he warned. ~
1T is easy to imagine the suffer-
ng," Mr.. Marks said, ''that would
esult from depleted gas supply in
he shortage areas. Where gas is
lsed for house heating, homes would |
e ice cold: water pipes would burst
nd requirements for hfeken pipes
night be unavailable. There would
e no gas for cooking or hot water
eating.
Mr.. Marks made clear that such a
hortage can be averted if the pub
c economies on gas, and he listed
he following steps for home owners
S important for conservation:
l. Refrain from using the range
ven for space heating.
2. Make the house air-tight
through insulation, storm sash,
'eather-stripping and caulking.
3. Put heating system in top
lotch condition.
4. Economic in use of the range
" using a low blue flame, cutting
lown on amount of water in which |
o cook vegetables, cooking more
'ne-dish meals, and keeping burn
RS clean.
65-Degree Temperature.
5. Set thermostat at IS degrees
Turing the day and lower at night.