Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-02

Only Extreme Cold
Likely to Cause
Shortage Here

There will be no gas shortage In
the Washington area this winter,
unless there is long. extremely cold
weather, an official OF the Washing
ton Gas Light Co. said today follow
ing = warning by the War PRODUCE
ton Board that domestic consump-
tion Of gas throughout the Nation
must be sharply curtailed because Of
war plant demands and shortages OF
coal and oil.
Unless we have an extremely cold
winter we don't anticipate any DIM
Guilty here the official said. It was
pointed out that this area does not
face war plant demands like some
other sections. .
In the event Of an unusually cold
winter, the gas company will ask
consumers in the District and nearby
Maryland and Virginia to volun-
tarily conserve gas. The ofncial ex-
pressed belief, that meanwhile, per-
sons. will not use gas unnecessarily.
Approximately $4,000 dwelling units
in the Washington area use gas for
heating, it was said.
Local gas is composed of about 80
per cent natural and 70 per cent
manufactured, by volume, and the
company anticipates no difficulty in
getting the necessary amount OF
natural gas from Kentucky and West
Virginia.
Company Using Less Oil.
A year ago.. the oficial said, the
company put in additional coal
burning equipment in its East Sta
ton and now Is using less oil in the
manufacture Of gas than 1t did a
year ago.
WPB said that nationally the
needs Of war industries are reducing
the reserve margins OF many gas
plants ITO a point where actual
shortages may occur during cold
weather unless domestic consump-
ton is reduced" ="
The shortage 2. exists both for
natural and artificial gas, WPB said
adding that manufactured gas is
made, from oil aiad coal both OF
which must be transported to gas
plants over rail- lines already badly
crowded with war materials, supplies
and. troops" ~.
The WPB urged gas conservation
in house heating, cooking and other
domestic uses, recommending ad-
justment of burners to attain maxi
mum efficiency with the least pos
sible fuel.
WPB made a series of sugges-
tons for gas conservation. Those
covering house heating included
many of the recommendations fol
conservation ssnsale lin convection
with fuel oil heat-a check by ex-
per ts to- let correct burner adjust
mel IS, i king the house as nearly
aifetigiitssxs possible to keep heat
in, keeping temperature at IS de-
grees except in rooms occupied by
children, the aged or invalids.
Cooking Suggestions Given.
For cooking purposes. it was
recommended that low blue
flame, not yellow" be used for EN-.
cheney. Other suggestions; Cool
more "one-dish'' meals; be SURE
burners are kept clean; don't ust
the gas range oven or top burners
to heat the kitchen or provide
auxiliary heat to the rest of thu
home.
In using gas for water heating
WPB said, see that leaky faucet.
are repaired. don't run water while
washing, but use the drain stop
insulate pipes and tanks, maintain
a water temperature OF 120 to Isl
degrees.
About gas refrigerators: DOM
leave the door open, reset tempera
ture controls after a quick freez'
ing, cool cooked foods before plac.
ing in refrigerator, don't vast,
space by keeping foods In re-
frigerators that don't have to b.
kept cool.