Evening star., 1947-03-03
Source OF Washsngton's Natural Gas.
By Chris Mafhisen

"A state OF emergency In the Washing
ton area gas supply was declared by the
Warrington Gas Light Co. February a.,
Natural gas reaching the Capital had
been reduced drastically by q pipeline
break In West Virginia. The line broke
again after being repaired the first time,
but but 1 iull service was restoDd the follow
Some natural gas reached Washington
throughout the emergency-the "line
pack" gas already in the pipe this side
OF the break, and supplemental amounts
fed into 1t through two connections
between that point and the Capital.
All Of this natural gas was routed to
suburban customers whose appliances
were converted last year. They could not
use straight manufactured gas or the
mixed natural-and manufactured prod
uct regularly supplied the company's
other customers in the District Of Col
umbia.
The sharp reduction IN the natural gas
supply was weathered successfully, but
it focused attention on the company's
plans for the District.
Conversion to Natural Gas.
The company wants to convert from
mixed to straight natural gas service
here. It has applications pending before
the Public Utilities Commission which
would make this possible. The company
asks authority to supply gas of 1,1OO
British thermal units per cubic foot in
stead Of 600 Btu's, as at present. Straight
natural gas has the higher heating
value; mixed gas the lower.
The company also asks permission to
bill on a basis Of therms instead Of
cubic feet. A therm Is 100000 Btus.
Natural gas varies in heating value,
and the company wants to make GER
tain customers are getting the heat for
which they are paying.
Therm billing is in effect In the
suburbs in which the conversion from
mixed to straight natural gas has
already been made. Some customers
have complained their bills have in
creased, although they have been using
their usual amount of gas. At PUG
hearing last December, Everett j.
Boothby, wise president and general
manager of the company, testified
these complaints were few and all were
investigated carefully. Several, which
were found to have been justified. were
traced to billing errors or improper
adjustment Of appliances and these
were corrected promptly he said.
Why does the company want to
convert completely to straight natural
gas service?
A Matter Of Supplying the Demand.
AS explained by Mr. Boothby at the
PUG hearing, something must be done
soon to increase the supply of gas for
the Washington area.
"Our plants will produce a, maximum
output Of 5,00o,0 900 cubic feet per day
Of mixed gas" he testified. 1--WE ex-
pect that the total demand Of all of
the gas customers Of the company and
its subsidiaries on 5-degree day in
this very winter would be approxi-
mately 140, 100000 cubic feet"
Next year. he said, demand will be
greater. Knowing this, Mr.. Boothby con-
tinued, the company found itself faced
with two alternatives q large
capital outlay to build new manufactur-
ing facilities here or converting to
straight natural gas throughout its sys-
tenn.
Consulting engineers were employed,
and they recommended the conversion
satisfactory than major plant expan-
sion program, he said.
The company opposed the conversion
before the war, contending it was not
certain Washington could be assured a
steady natural gas supply Of sufficient
volume over period of years. At the
hearing last December, Mr. Boothby said
the company had been convinced future
supplies are ample.
PUG Chairman James A. Flanagan
has promised the decisions on the appli-
cations will be forthcoming soon. When
questioned recently, he would not say
whether the recent pipeline breaks
would enter into the commissions ac-
ton, saying only:
well, we know 1t happened"
The recent emergency would have