Evening star., 1948-08-28
By james Birchfield
Stor Stoff Correspondent

WINCHESTER, Va, Aug. o.
Heat and conversion are the main
topics of conversation in this North
ern Virginia city.
While it has been hot enough to
fry an egg on the sidewalk here this
week, householders-895 of them
who use gas for cooking are Won
dering how their eggs will be fried
after midnight Tuesday.
For that is the day the Con-
sumers' Utilities Co., which sup
plies this city with heating and
cooking gas, will shut of the valve
and stop the flow to homes and
stores.
The gas stoppage here is the
climax of series of circumstances
following an explosion last June 23
The explosion, caused by seeping
gas from leaking main. wrecked
the three-story Raylass Department
Store, killing one person and in
jurying II.
Franchise Is Cancelled.
City Council approved an order
canceling the company's franchise
after company officials declared
line repairs ordered by Council were
financially impossible, and the State
Corporation Commission ordered
service to homes and stores be
stopped Tuesday.
So there is last-minute rush now
by gas-using homeowners to convert
to other forms of gas or to electricity
for cooking and water heating.
Of1cials of both the gas company
and the Northern Virginia Power
Co. believe few will be without means
of cooking when the valve Is closed.
r. L. Itnyre, assistant manager Of
the power company, and George
Sanders, the company's merchandise
ing manager, said 10 crews. brought
in from other points in the COM
pany's system, already have made
more than 200 conversions from gas
to electricity.
Some to Use Bottled" Gas.
Mr.. Itnyre said he anticipated the
company will add approximately 400
customers to its lines by the time the
gas is cut off, and that slightly more
than 400 others will convert to bot
tied" gas.
He said manufacturers Of electrical
equipment-both of line material
and applianceS-have assured the
company there will be no shortage
of equipment, and that the COM
pany anticipates no difficulty in
completing all Of its conversion
orders.
William U. Stark, local gas COM
pany manager, said 10 gas company
crews brought in to handle change
overs from piped to bottled" gas,
have completed most conversion
jobs in restaurants and other large
installations, and now are rapidly
making changeovers in private
homes.
The gas now being piped to homes
and stores is propane gas, similar
to the bottled" variety, so that
changing from one to the other
is not complex step, MIR. Stark
explained.
He said most home changes con-
sist only of leading new lines from
the gas cylinders, which are placed
outside of the house, to the kitchen
range and hot water heater. Most
changes cost about $13.75, he said.
To Maintain Inactive Lines.
Mr.. Stark said the utilities COM
pany, a Harrisburg concern, will
continue to maintain its gas lines,
although they are not to be in use.
"It is only matter of a year
or so," he said, until pipe line
bringing natural gas from West Vir-
ginia to Washington will be con-
structed. This will pass within
about IS miles of Winchester, and
there is little doubt that the city
will have access to natural gas.
1T is going to be good spot" he
said, "either for this company OF
another. if this company should de-
eide to sell out"
Mr.. Stark said his company would
remain in the gas business, servicine
bottled" gas.
He said this variety of gas will
add approximately IS cents month
to the average family gas bill. Stores
that convert their heating facilities