Evening Star Newspaper, March 18, 1896, Page 11

ray THE EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, MARC MUCH GAS TALK (Coxt'nued from Third Page.) Rose-Hastings process of making gas, have you? Mr. McTiherny—Onh, yes. Process No Cheaper. The Chairman—Do you think that gas can be made any cheaper under this pro- cess than under your process? Mr. Meclihenny—I think not, sir. I hon- estiy think not. They simply use soft coal, where we use anthracite. That is the explanation. I would say that ges- making, like mating everything else, de- pends very largely upon the locality. If gas is mai= in a locality where anthracite costs $6 or $7_a ton, or é perhaps, 3 a ton, might use the Rose-Hastings pr S and use the coke that is produced. We buy coke to make this water gas, and put it ix and make fuel of {t. it is simply a fuel for producing gas. ws that air is destructive to the iMumi- ating power of One per cent vf of illuminating gas per cent completely des process of growing up, oft coal the air in that drives tors and has a bad effe: i ff the ga: caui, costin between $3 and $4, is the gas. th: und do you pay for bitu- bout $3,90. ‘ Mr. Sands—Do you not think !+ possible to get it for less than that here? Working to That End. . Mclihenny—We are making efforts all time to get it cheaper. But I really not answer that question categorical- ly. are making efforts in the company all the time io get ceal for less price. Mr. Winship, who knows about this matter, seys No doubt reductions might be made, for ali things seem to be coming dewn in price in these times. Sands—Can it not be had here for a deal less than that price? . MeIthenny—I think not. Sands—In that connection I would Uke to submit to the committee an offer that we have already received, under date ef March 6, 1896. Mr. Sands here read a letter to the com- mittee from the L. B. Huff Company, di- rected to Col. Dehauck, Greensburg, Pa., 186, offering to deliver coal . b. at Washington, D. C., at the rate of $2.49 per ton of 2.240 pounds. Senator Gibson—What is said as to the lensth of the term that shali continue? Mr. Sands—There is nothing sat@ about the term. That would be the subject of ecntract. This is an offer made generally. Mr. McIthenny—-We have Mr. Love here, Who is the inspector of gas in the city of New York. If you would like to hear him, 2 would be clad to put him on the stand. Senater Gatlinger—I want to be informed very accurately on this point. Did I cor- rectly understand you to say. Mr. Melhen- ny, that the coke which results, I suppose, in your works after the gas is extracted has a better sale in manufacturing cities than in Washington; and that gas com- panies in those manufacturing cities get letter prices, while you find it difficult to get rid of your coke at any price? Mr. McIibenny—I will explain that. The first thing in making water gas is to ascer- tain how not to make so much coke and to Produce gas of they found that when they were making only one-third of the gas out of coal and coke, the product was very hard to sell. Senator MeMillan—We want to now hear question of the test contained in House bill @4, section 3. That a3 put into the bill by Maj. Powell, I be- ve. nator Faulkner—It is the same as the old provision. Senator McMillan—Was not this third fection of this gas bill put in by the Com- ‘Test for Gaslight. Maj. Poweil—I do not know. If you will tell me what the test is, I may be able to Plate: Senator Faulkner—It is that “the illumi- nating power of the gas furnished by any gaslight company, person or persons in the District of Columbia shal! be equal to twenty-two candles by the Bunsen. photo- meter, using the English parliamentai standard Argand burner, having fifi holes.and a seven-inch chimney, consumi 4 five cubic feet of gas per how Maj. Powell—What candle power was that Faulkner—Twenty-two candle wer. Le nator McMillan—I understand from the ight company, that this test is one they uid net conform to; that it is a physical impossibility to comply with that require- ment, and that the test is greater than is demanded by any other city in the couatry. As I understand it, they have experts here who desire io explain that. Mr. Mcilhenny—Mr. Chairman, we have here Mr. Love, who is inspector of gas for the city of New York, and who is not only the inspector in the city of New York, but is a gentieman who has a national reputa- tion, and a man of scientific attainments, particularly upon gas questions and the manufacture and test of the illuminating power of gas. I take pleasure in introduc- ing Professor Love. Senator McMillan—We will be glad to hear from Professor Love. Statement of E. G. Love. “Mr. Chairman, I have been asked to address you 9m one or two of the technical matters contained in this bill. I would like to say, as preliminary to a general statement in regard to this matter, that illuminating gas contains two classes of constituents, which are important classes. One includes. hydrogen, marsh gas and carbonic oxide, forming the bulk of gas, but giving no light; and the other class in- cludes those substances which furnish the luminous properties to the gas. It is the introducticn of these constituents into the gas which forms a very important part of the cost. “It is generally conceded that, having put im these constituents at considerable ex- pense, the company is entitled to the use of a burner which will chow that gas to the best advantage. It is possible to burn gas of thirty-candle power without getting any light whatever from it, or a portion oniy of that quantity of light may be ob- tained. But, as I say, it is ordinarily con- ceded that the company is entitled to use a burner which will develop all of the light which can be obtained from the gas. “The burner does not increase the per- centage of illuminants In the gas, but it merely develops more or less perfectly the constituents which have been put into it. “Tris bill, as I understand it, calls for a gas which shall have a candie power of twenty-two by the Bunsen photometer, using the Enslish parliamentary standard Argard burner, having fifteen holes and a seven-inch chimney. The Argand Burner. “Washington, I believe, has the distinc- tion of being the only city on the face of the earth that uses this burner described in this bill. “It is previded that the company shall furnish a gas givirg twenty-two-candle power by this burner. It was abandoned as an English parliamentary standard Argand burner twenty-five years ago. In London today they use, for their low candle power gas, from fourteen’ to sixteen candles,which 1s a good gas for London, an Argand burn- er. Here is the official burner which they employ, which fs an entirely different struc- ture, for their higher candle power gas in London, a gas having a power of about twenty. “They use a flat flame burner. There ts @ burner prescribed by ect of parliament for testing the candle power of gas in Lon- don, that is, gas having a candle power of about twenty. Here ts a copy of the in- structions sent me by the gas referees in Londen, Faving cortrol of this matter, in which they prescribe an Argand burner for @ poor quality of coal gas and a flat flame burner for the higher power candle gas. “Following that practice the flat flame burner has been adopted in most of the cities m this country, and, in fact, in all of the cities of this country, as far as I know, in testing gas of higher candle power. “I have here two burners. This (Indicat- ing) is a flat flame burner, known as the Bug Dome Cap No. 6. This is used in Bos- ton and in the state of Massachusetts to- day in testing all gas of the quality of that which you have here in Washington. In New York we use a burner of a similar gharacter, @ flat slip burner, known as Bray coz Senator Martin—What 1s the difference between the two? What 1s Required. Mr. Love—This burner of Sug gives pos- sibly a little better result than the burner of Bray; but in selecting a burner for offi- Every one; 18, 1896-TWELVE PAGES. 11 cial tests there are two things to be con- -sidered.. Ore of them I have already men- tioned, and that it must develop all of the light power there is in the gas. ‘Ike secend is, the burner must be one adapted to the use of the consumer. It is not fair to use some expensive burner { in making the official test, or a burner which it will be impossible for the con- stmer to provide himself with. It is im- now. “You must bear in mind that the company must carry the power a margin abcye that. It will have to run It up to 25. Senator Gallinger—You think that would give the best results? =~ 5 Mr. Love—It would not give as much light as a 30-candle ges, but with a 30- candle gas the consumer would be very much annoyed with smoke. I think the material what the quality and the power | best practical result would be obtained by of the gas is, unless the consumer, by a judiciocvs use of burners, can get just as much light as is gotten under an official test. That is the reason why, in picking ovt a burrer for New York, I picked out one that you can get at 50 cents a ; Jf the consumer does not care to go to that slight expense, of course, the company can do nothing for him. This (indicating) is the burner used in New York. Senator Baker—is that No. 6 or No, 7? Mr. Love—it is No. 7. I have made re- cent tests of your gas here by this burner and I get 241% candle power on the aver- age °s your candle powcr by the use of the same burrer that we use in New York. We will assume that your District inspectors average by the use of the old Sug 15 hole Argand, 19! candle power, although it is a trifle over that, and this will give a differ- ence of five candles between these two berners. That would raise the standard practically to twenty-seven candles. ° No ges company can afford to distribute which runs very close to twenty-seven candle, because they are subject to very heavy penalties in case they fall below that standard, and the consequence is the company must furnish twenty-eight candle pewer gas. It is very difficult to furnish such gas ere the gas is manufactured of coal and water. As to Candle Power. “There is just one other point with re- gard to candle power. Assuming that the tests I have recently made of your Wash- ington gas are correct, and that you have a candle power, by the use of this flat flame burner, of perhaps 24%3—I have in my hand the report of the gas inspector for the state of Massachusetts for the year 185, and he gives the average power of the Boston Gaslight Company at 243-10 candle power by the Sug double dome burner, which is reputed to give a slightly better result than this burner of Bray's. “The average of the gas companies in New Yerk for the months of January and February of this year, the weekly averages, by the of the Bray burner, is 26 can- die. In New York daily tests are made, and I have here the general averages and the weekly averages. I can give you the general average or the average of the dif- ferent branches. We have nine gases on Manhattan Island, all of which are tested by myself and my assistant. now Five of these are the Equitable, the Standard and the East River, making nine in all.” Senator McMillan—What is the test call- ed for in New York? No Test Preseribed. Mr. Love—There is no test prescribed. All there is in New York is the contract which the gas companies make with the depart- ment of public works, in which they agree to furnish gas of a certain candle power— maybe high or low. If that contract 1s 2c- cepted by the department of public works, of course,the company Is obliged to fulfiill it. Major Powell—What is the highest power, if you please? Mr. Love—The highest average? Major Powell—No; the highest power named in any contract. Mr. Love—I think it is 25. Major Powell—The published maximum candie power in New York is :3. candle Mr. Love—Is that taken from the con- tracts? : Major Powell—That is from Brown's Di- rectory. Mr. Love—There is not and never was a gas company in New York that makes 33- le gas. Major Powell—I have named the authority. It may not be correct. Mr. Love—It certainly is incorrect. They always cut it down to about 25 or 24 candles. My impression is the highest bid is 25. jenator Gallinger—You say the average . Love—Twenty-six. enator Gallinger—What candle power do you say any company can afford to give? Love—I say that in a mixed gas, that where you have to manufacture water gas and coal gas. you cannot carry your candle power so high as you can with straight water gas, without having difficulty because of smoking. They find it impossible, for instance, in Glasgow and other Scottish towns, where they have large quantities of fine cannel coal. to furnish twenty-eight- candle gas without making it an intolerable n isanee. Because of Smoke. Senator Ga!linger—It 1s not because they could not afford it, but because ft would make smoke? Mr. Love—Yes. Senator Martin—What is the proper candle power of a gas manufactured of coal and water, that we should provide for this city? Mr. Love—I cannot see any advantage in anything better than you have now. If I were to fix the standard for New York city I should fix it from twenty-four to twenty- five candle. I think if you get much above that, there are increased expenses in secur- ing the extra candle power, and there is a greater Hability to smoke and complaint on the part of the consumer. Senator McMillan—You mean twenty-four or twenty-five-candle power by the use of this other burner? Mr. Love—I mean by this flat flame burner. Senator McMillan—You do not approve of this English parliamentary burner? Mr. Love—No; that burner is an antique. Senator McMillan—Then you would strike out this provision? Mr. Love—Yes. In the first place no con- sumer can get the English parliamentary standard Argand burner; and you should place in the hands of the consumer just such a burner as the inspector uses. Senator Faulkner—So that the test in his house would be the same as the test made by the inspector. Mr. Love—S> that he can get just as much candle power as the inspector, and if he does not it is his own fault. Senator Baker—Do you say that with the higher candle power there 1s more liability of smoke? Mr. Love—Yes, sir. Senator Baker—If you get above twenty- seven candle power there is lability of smoking? Mr. Love—Yes, sir. Senator Baker—Do you know what the candle power in Minneapolis is? Mr. Love—No, sir; I do not. Senator Baker—This statement says that it is thirty, and that the power in Jersey City is twenty-eight. Major Powell—The later companies have a higher standard. Mr. Love—That fs because the later com- panies are making straight water gas and the older companies are still using the coal gas plant to help out in furnishing their supply. Raising the Standard. For instance, the Manhattan Company has tw2 coal gas plants today In operation and we also have the old Metropolitan works still making coal gas and enriching it with ofl, with a candle power of twenty- two, perhaps, on an average. Senator Faulkner—You think then it would be fair to raiso the standard from twenty-two to twenty-four and use Bray's burner No. 7 as the test? Mr. Love—I do, sir. Senator Gallinger—How would it to raise it to twenty-six, the point at which you have it in New York? Mr. Leve—The difficulty about that would be that the average of twenty-six is made up by taking an average of a great num- ber of water gases and of very little coal gas. In Washington vou have a gas which is composed of one-third coal gas. I think you would find that, on the whole, twenty- four or twenty-five candle gas with a flat flame burner would be more satisfactory than twenty-six candie gas. Senator Faulkner—Without any reference to the interests of the company, which would make the best illuminating gas, twenty-four, tweaty-five or twenty-six can- dle power? Mr. Love--I am looking at it only from that standpoint and not from the stand- point of the interests of the company, in which I have no interest whatever. Senator Baker—What do you say ‘about what the candle power should be? Mr. Love—I have tested it for two weeks and I think the average would be about twenty-four and a half by that burner. Senator Faulkner—Throwing out of con- sideration the interests of this company what, in your judgment would be the best candle power, give the illumination, and give the best satisfaction with a gas manufactured of one-third coal and two- thirds water? Mr. Leve—I should say twenty-four can- dle power by a Bray burner. Senator Gallinger—That would be just what we have now. Pius Power Margin. Mr. Love—Just about what. you have 24 or 25-candle gas. Senator McMilian—Here in Washington a reat many people complain of poor lights. is that because of the old pipes in the houses being rusted and not in proper con- dition, or what is the trouble? r. Love—I have not examined that. Senator McMilian—You have had experi- ence in it? Mr. Love—It is a very common com- Plaint. I have found, in certain cases, that there was a deficiency of pressure. Where the consumer uses a fiat-tlame burner it is very essential that he has more pressure than if he uses an Argand burner. I have investigated this matter to some extent in New York, and I have found that the pipes may be small or they may be rusted, and, in a great many cases, the burners themselves are very cefective. I understand the gas company puts in burners for the consumers in order to ob- viate that here. That is a very common practice in New York. In fact, they gen- erally do try to satisfy the consumers by giving them burners. If the house was improperly piped when it was built or the pipes are small, or they become obstructed in any way, no matter what pressure the gos company puts on, you cannot get gas through the burner to give a light. Mr. McMillan‘’s Pipe. Senator McMillan—That was my expe- rience in my stable and the back part of my house. They were not lighted prop- erly, and yet the gas in the front part of the house seemed to be all right. I had an examination made aad finally they dug down and found the pipe was very small. It had been put tn there by Mr. Galt when he built the house, and it was probably adequate for him, with one or two horses, but when I bought the house I needed more light there in the stable to wash car- riages, etc. I put in a new pipe, and fixed it up, and then T had just as good light in the back as I did in the front part of the house. I have been wondering whether that is not the trouble with a great many of those who complain about the quality of the light. Mr. Luve—That is a very common source of complaint. Mr. Winship—Before you sit down, Mr. Love, will you allow me to ask you how high a candle power gas it is possible to make with pure coal gas? Mr. Love—Using coal alone? Mr. Winship—Using coal alone; the best qualities of cannel and the best qualities of Youghiogheny. Mr. Love—Do you speak of the best it is possible to make? Mr. Winship—For ordinary use. Mr. Love—If you were going to make gas from coal alone I should think twenty candles was a good standard, but, of course, you can make it thirty candles. Nobody would, however, want to use {t. Mr. Winship—i am talking about ordinary commc¢reial gas. Mr. Love—Yes. Senator Faulkner—I would like to know why they could not make as good gas in Washington as they do in New York. The Proposition here is to give us twenty-four candle power by that burner. Mr. Love--As I kave already stated, the average in New York for the first two months of this year was twenty-six candle. You would get, perhaps, twenty-five candle, and no man on earth can tell the difference between the two in the illumination. Senator Faulkner—That would give a good practical light? Mr. Love--It would give a good light. In addition to that you have a very rigid test here. Outside of New York I do not know of any city where they have so rigid a test. In Boston they do not make more than fifty-two tesis a year, a once-a-week test, but in Washington you have a y test, the same as we have in New York. Mr. McIlhenny—We have Captain White of New York here. Senator MeMillan—We wculd like to hear what Captain White has to say. Mr. Mclilhenny—-He is an expert of na- tonal reputation. “Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee: The ground has been so thor- oughly covered in this matter that it seems to me to be almost useless to take up your time with any further discussion of it. “1 understand now that we are to address ourselves only to this bill with reference to making the price of gus one dollar per thousand. The question of competing gas companies has already been considered.” Senator McMillan—That has been dis- posed of for the presenc. Mr. White—As I Lave sat here this after- noon, and at other times, listening to all this talk before the committee, it seems to me to be marvelous how, year after year, the Senate and House give up their time to listen to this same old story, and hear about the same old coon up the same cld_ tree, time after time. It is a very serious matter for the gas company, how- ever, that the Senate and House can be constantly reached by these gentiemen who are able to tell you how wonderfully and beautifully they can make gas by some process which the rest of us do not know anything about, and how very cheap it can be made. “The result of this is found in the bill which is before you for consideration, asking that this company be required to reduce the price of gas to $1 per 1,000, and increasing its iMuminating power about 15 per cent; and this is done without any bsolute technical know!edge on the part of the committee on this subject. “Now, gentlemen, I hold that it is impos- sible for the Washington Gas Light Com- pany to make gas end sell it in the city of Washington and make a reasonable Profit upon it at $1 per 1,000. Washinj- ton is a city which is peculiarly situated It pays more than the usual prices for all its materials. It is paying very liberal wages. It is a peculiar city in many re- spects. Washington, sfter all, may Le looked upon somewhat in the light of our large summer resort cities on the eastern coast. This city does a large business while Congress is in session. A great many people are hers, the hotels are filled, the boarding houses are running over, and the stores are doing more or less’ business incident to this crowd. They concentrate in that part of the year a great portion of their business. Caring for the PI . “But so far as the Washington Gas Light Company is concerned, the rest of the clty has to be cared for just the same during the remainder of the year. This three hun- dred miles of pipe has to be laid and cared for, so that everybody around the outer edges of the city can be supplied with gas. The standard here must be kept equally good during the remainder of the year. There is no letting down in the quality of the gas during the slack period. Every- thing has to be run at the same high pres- sure. “It was argued, gentlemen, before the House committee and by the chairman of that committee, in presenting his report, that the cost of gas to this company was 70 cents per thousand feet, and that 30 cents thousand was enough to ailow them for the purpose of dividends and in- terest Spon oe bonds. 1 ““That :may true if you look at it in ahe lightithat 70 cents means everything in the way of expense. But when you come to fix the price of gas you cannot be guided by whatiis done in some other city. You ‘aust be. guided entirely by what is done in the city to which this price applies. The difference in the cost of materials, the price of labor, the character of the street Pave- ments, the taxes, and a variety of things that are dissimilar in different cities, must be taken into consideration. What It Can Afford. “Now, gentlemen, it seems to me that the simple question for you to consider, and the fair and just question for you to consider with reference to the question of the price and quality of gas, which you have before you, is to ascertain what this 1s company can afford to do, treating it fosuy and Ifberally and from that stand- in Perrhere can be no judgment by a gentle- man who may live three thousand miles from the city of Washington, who knows nothing whatever about the question of the cost of the transportation of material and the cogt of material here, as to the price at which gas should be furnished ere. “I ee pa eenec inne tie gas company can prove — apparatus, with the price it pays for material, for Ia- bor, with the illuminating power and qual- ity of the gas that is now required, they cannot continue to pay dividends of 10 per cent and take care of their stock and sell “It is only necessary to'take this subject up directly as to these various costs, the cost of coal, the cost of oll, the cost of la- bor and the erection of these pldnts, and then what it costs this otherwise to operate the plant, in o: to discover what the cost is to It." It has to bay taxes. It has to make its annual betterments.. It has to keep itself abreast of the improve- ments. It ts perfectly right that this com- pany should be expegted to’ keep itself: in touch with tne-very‘iest that our profes- sion affords; that itsa. works should be abreast with what is known today as the best practice. Congress has the right to insist that they shaltxde that. But it is right also that Congvess should treat. this company in a liberal manner, permitting it to have the means with which to do these things. 1: He Stadied,¢he Plant. “I have studied th'# plant of the Wash- ington Gas Light Company for a number of years. I have seen; it grow from very small proportions. I. kgow that it has al- ways been the ambition of the manage- ment of this company to be in the fore- front, not only as regards the character of its apparatus, but als6 48 regards the char- acter of light furnished, and the treatment of the general public. “This company can make, and does make, as fine gas as any company in the world. The fact that there is a trifling difference between the illuminating power of the gas in New York city. and the gas in Washing- ton is so trifling that it is simply not worth talking about. In other words, if you fix the illuminating power at 24, as suggested by Prof. Love, this company would be making it equal to 25 or 25%, as a matter of safety. Consumption in Summer. “This gas made by the Washingion Gas- light Company has to be burned in a south- ern City, where, during a large part of the year, the windows and doors are open, and the flame is subject to draughts. If you fcrce this company to make a high candle- power gas—that is, for instance, if you make it twenty-six candles—it would be impos- sible for the gas to be burned in this city. Every ceiling and every fresco in the town would be smoked up inside of thirty days if such a gas were burned here. That is one of the things which you have to take into censideration on this question, which is an absolutel local one. Every one of these questions must be treated from its own local standpoint. You can simply use what is being done elsewhere as a precedent and guide; but you must always come back to what is fair and reasonable right here in Washington. “I do not know that I can say anything more upon the subject, because it has been gene over so thoroughly. It has been discussed in all its various phases, and it reaches this one conclusion, and that is, whether the price of one dollar will enable this company to go on, and do its business in the broad and liberal manner which a company of its magnitude should do. “Of course they can sell gas at a dollar, if this Congress says they must; but it means the immediate cutting down of the wages of employes, the cutting out of every man they can possibly do without; it means hard- ship all along the line. The wages of the clerks must be reduced. They must buy materials of a lower grade. When exten- sions are made they will be made in a more penurious way. Crippling Enterprise. “It means the absolute crippling of this enterprise all along the line. Therefore I, as a man skilled in this work, both in con- struction and in the operation of gas works, having been closely associated with their Tmanagement all my life, feel that here in Washington the Washington Gaslight Com- pany cannot afford to sell gas at a dollar and maintain a high standard of everything in connection with its business, although I believe in dollar gas and in high illuminating power.” Change in Burners. Senator McMillan—Is- there anything else in section 3 in which you would suggest a change? , Mr. White-I would suggest a change in the character of your tést as to the burners. I would suggest that’ instead of using the so-called English parliamentary standard Argand burner, having ‘fifteen holes in a seven-inch chimney. thar you should pro- vide for the use of the Bry flat-flame bur er, consuming five feet. of gas per hour. There are other provigfons in this bill which are very rigid, but they are perfectly proper. With reference to the provision about su phuretted hydrogen, ypu say that there shail be absolutely none., It, is very difficult, where gas works are heli carried on of the magnitude of these “here, to prevent the presence of sulphuretjed hydrogen. A little leak around a valve jn a gas plant will let enough sulphu 4 hydrogen into your to make all of the gas In town show a slight trace of it Senator Gailinge take care of that Mr. White—I see that by the Dill you do leave that to the inspector; and if he is a man of the high standard of your preseat gas inspector, he would understand that this was an unavoidable accident, and not make trouble about it. Senator Faulkner—You would necessarily have some provision about it? White—Yes, si Senator Faulkner— other, can you? Mr. White- Woukl not the proviso You cannot suggest any ‘0, I do not know that 1 could. This !s an_ exceedingly rigid re- quirement; but I have not read further down in the bill, through the provision, and that would cover my objection to it. I haye had an experience in this matter within two months, by bein& called in as an expert gas engineer by a company which had been afflicted all during the winter with the presence of sulphuretted hydrogen. They had searched all over their works and made every effort to find it, but had been unable to do so. We found it after a very careful search. There was what we call a by-pass valve that had heen discarded, and that had been lying idle in the works for some time. It was a line of pipe that was still connected, but it was not used; and that valve had been leaking. In order to satisfy myself as to at quantity of gas was passing out through that, I put a teat meter on, and I found that there was passing out not to exceed fifty feet of gas in a day; and yet it had so distinctly marked the gas of that town that it was everywhere prominent, and you covid find it. Senator McMillan—Is it not true that the Bas companies have so much interest in this matter that if a new process is dis- covered which is good and cheapens the cost of the manufacture of gas, or gives a better quality, they will be the first ones to buy it; is not that natural? Mr. White—Certainly. 1 was just about to refer to that. The fact is simply this. The process mentioned by our friends here has been before gas engineers for some seven or elght years. Dr. Love, who has just spoken to you, made an analysis of this gas in the early "9s or In 1891. I went to various places to examine it in its em- bryonic state; and I will frankly say here that if these gentlemen had anything which the gas cngineers of this country believed was worth a moment's consideration they would not be here before you asking to get into the city of Washington. They would be so busy at their main office selling their rights to us gas mén that they would have no time to come here and ask for anything. Men at the Hend of It. “The gas industry of this country is largely in the control of talented, pains- taking, careful and sensible men, who are devoting their entire time to the improve- ment of their profession. I will state to you right now that will give you a mil- lion dollars, and get,it inside of twenty- four hours, for any, process by which you can show me you cdn make gas and put it in the holder 6 centd cheaper than I am making it now, and any other good gas man would do the same, These gentlemen come here and tell you they are mading it at half price. If they will only make ft 5 cents cheaper than‘ other gas companies in New York city, ‘the’ Washington Gas Company would telegraph to me in New York immediately to get hold of that man before somebody else got him and to buy that process for Washington city. I am constantly employed™in going about this country and exaniining into that very thing. There are bankers in New York who have these matters brought before them and they want to know about it. Our New York bankers are not letting that sort of thing go, if there'is merit in it. If these gentlemen coilld do what they say they can do they would not be chasing you here. They would have all they wanted. “You would never make a greater mis- take in your life than. to give these gentle- men a chance to come here and rip up your streets, build gas works in this city, be- cause they cannot fulfill what they think they can do. They are simply deceiving themselves, which is a very useless thing to do. They remind me somewhat of the old Methodist minister who once called upon @ young convert who had gotten a little bit enthusiastic during the meeting, and who was stating some facts that were purely facts in his imagination. The old gentleman got up and said: ‘Why, my dear young brother, it is not wise for one to dis- Seminate information that is not based on what-is true.’ These gentlemen are dissem- Te information that they have not got.” ~ TELEPHONE WIRES The Commissioners’ Opposition the Home Company Bill. es HR. HEMPHILL HAS A BEARING He Says There is No Chance for the Commissioners’ Conduit Plan. OTHER DISTRICT MATTERS = Mr. John J. Hemphill, representing the Eome Telephone Company, appeared before the Commissioners this morning in the in- terest Of that company. He called atten- tion to the unfavorable report of the au- thoritles upon the bill which seeks.to char- It was madé no doubt 2 of the idea of continually opening the streets of the city. He criticised the emnibus bill of the Commissioners, but did not think the people should be made to wait for cheaper telephone rates until that bill was passed. The bill of the Home Company has been amended so that it might lay an under- ground conduit system which could be used by all companies owning overhead wires, and further to provide that at the end of fifty years the system shall become the property of the District. After two years the District could come in and purchase the plant at a fair valuation. The com- Pany als proposed, he said, to care for all the wires belonging to the District free of charge. This should be accepted in leu of rent to be paid the District, especially since at the end of a :ertain time the system be- comes the property. of the District. “But suppose other companies should come in and ask for a similar charter, the Com- missioners would be In a peculiar position,” said Commissioner Ross. “It was just exactly that very thing,” said Mr. Truesdell, “which influenced the Commissioners in opposing the general subway bill. Several companies were try- ing to get in and the Commissioners could not decide which was the best. All of them were represented by reputable citi- zens, and it would be charged that we favored your company if the bill which you represent were recommended favorably by the Commissioners.” Mr. Hemphill said in reply that he had talked with a number of legislators at the Capitol and none of them thought the bill recommended by the Commissioners for a general subway system would ever be passed. They all believed it was a good idea, but no one was for it. After an ex- perience of ten years in Congress he was convinced the bill would never be heard of, because there was no one for it. Cemmission2r Ross said the bill, being a good one, would stand on its merits. He had that mich confidence in Congress. Mr. Hemphill replied that a bill with no one behind it, no matter how meritorious it was, had not a ghost of a chance to pass. Why, he might as well try to beat the Bell Telephone Company without a char- ter as to try ard pass a bill with no one Yehind it. If the District had a representa- tion in Congress the matter would be bet- ter. But it could not be expected that a Congressman with a daily mail of several huntred letters from constituents could or would fight to pass such a bill. He then rehearsed the situation as far as the cost of telephones was concerned. Commissioner Truesdell said the Commis- sioners would prefer to build this general subway Municipal to be yetem if they had the money. ntrol of the subways was much desired. ‘or Other Uses. The Commissioners have notified Mr. A. E. Randle that the old frame school ing on Congress Heights cennot be u: a library building, as it is the intention of the board of school trustees manual training school of it. Flings for School Bafidings. The Commissioners, in a letter to Senator McMillan today, recommend favorable ac- tion upon Senate bill 1781, “making appro- priation to furnish flags for school houses in the District of Columbia.” They say the board of school trustees is also in favor of the bill ld- to make @ Mixcellnneoun. According to an order of the Commis- sioners, no more licens to hold entertainments, hall corner of 6th and C st The Commissioners have directed the Po- tomac Heat and Power Company to re- move all poles that have not been erected, and to forthwith fill up all holes made by it for the erection of poies. The time for the completion of the Ten- ley n school has been extended to May 15. Sunday Observance. Senate bill 2485, which has for its object the further protection of the Sabbath, was the subject of a hearing before the Com- missioners this morning. Rev. Dr. J. H. Elliott, representing the Churchmen's League, and Mr. Wilbur F. Crafts, who has devoted a number of years to promoting Sunday _obse: rvance, were present. . Elliott read the old Maryland law, which provided for the fining of vio- lators of the Sabbath, and the payment of a certain number of pounds of tobacco, and said he did not think it was necessary to argue against such a law. It could no: be enforced on account of ascertaining the penalty. The object of the bill was to re- turn to the statute books a law which would protect the day. At the present time there was, he suid, no law in the District to pre- vent the opening of stores on Sunday, ex- cept bar rooms and barber shops. There was nothing to prevent every store on Penn- sylvania avenue or F street from opening wide their doors on Sunday, and the Com- missioners Had no law to Compe! them to close. One of the Commissioners asked Dr. El- liott what was the real situation, the pres- ent danger that he complained of in press- ing such a bill. Dr. Elliott replied that there seems to be a decided drift in the direction of opening these places gradually. This should be prevented at once. He had recently had a conversation with the captain of police re- garding Sunday observance, and that off- cial had remarked that the only reason in his opinion why people did not keep their places of business open generally was that they believed the old Maryland law was still in force. Commissioner Ross said he thought dif- ferently. The people of Washington were a law-abiding people, who had no desire to work on Sunday. Dr. Elliott said it was not to compel an okservance of the Sabbath, but to. try and arrest the tendency to violate it,,. It not the object of the bill to get up;an ideal Sunday, but there was a hiatus in, our law which should be filled. < Mr. Crafts rehearsed the subject S23 | ly, and gave some interesting data goncern-| ing the law in other cities. ee : a Mrs. Ashmend-Bartlett Dead. ! Mrs. Ashmead-Bartleit, mother of Sir Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett, M. P., and William Lehman Burdett-Coutts, husband of Bar- oness Burdett-Coutts, is dead. She was the widow of Ellis Bartlett, a dissenting min- ister of Plymouth, Mass. In 1860 Mrs. Ashmead-Bartlett took her sons to Eng- land. The voyage was a rough one, and so affected Mrs. Ashmead-Bartlett that she resolved never to cress the Atlantic again. She settled at Eastbourne, Sussex. eee es England’s Soudan Campaign. Sir H. H. Kitchener, the brigadier general in command of the Egyptian forces, has been definitely appointed to command the British-Egyptian expedition, which will ad- vance on April 1 from Wady-Halfa up the Nile and toward Dongola. Slatin Pasha, fcrmerly an officer of the Austrian and Egyptian armies, and who recently escaped from Omdurman, after having been nearly seventeen years in captivity im the Soudan, will take part in the expedition. Se a Chicago and Torento Yachts to Race. Members of the Royal Yacht Club who will build the boat to meet Chicago's Vince @’Or met Saturday night and com- pleted the syndicate. The Toronto boat is now sure to meet the challenger. The new boat will be bulit under cover and her sign kept secret until she leaves in June. de- ANOTHER GRATEFUL FAMILY, — There is no spring remedy equal te Paine s cel ery compound. Sufferers from debility who find their convales- cence too slow are joyously surprieed by the b impetys toward recovery that comes from Paine's celery compound. Its healing, _nerve-restoring, blood-making, nourishing powers go so directly to the root of the trouble that the progress toward health and strength is steady and uninterrupted. No relapses come when Puine's celery compound has once fairly begun its Lealihful action. With a stronger appetite, sounder sleep and bet- ter digestion (results that every one bas expe- rienced whe has taken Puine’s celery compound) the weak and sore kidueys aud the tired stomech cease to trouble, and the nerves allow one to work unvexed by day and to sleep by night without Misturbance. ‘This is what physiciaus mean when they say that Paine’s celery com nervous diseases permanent For disordered liver und for all blood diseases physicians use this great formula of Prof. Edward E. Phelps, M.D., LL.D., of Dartmouth College Paine’s celery compound. For 100 Coupons and $1.00 BLACKWELL'S It has lifted thousands ! ”|Mr. Miller Considers Paine’s Celery Com- pound a National Blessing, it beds of sickness. It does what nothing eles ever did for the sleepless, the @yspeptic and the despondent—it cures them once and for all. Here is a testimonial from Mr. E. A. Miller of Columbus, Obio, accompanying the photograph ef his family: “For two years past I have been a constant sufferer with severe nervous headaches, ofttimes being compelled to go to bed, when my business necessitated my personal attention. Last weet my physician recommended Patne’s celery com- pound. I have taken now four bottles, and have not suffered with headache since. ‘This goverme , iu my imind, should pay the discoverer of Hie is the granddaughter of the late Governor 3 of Ohio, Mr, Millers praise of Paineée celery compound is equaled by that of thousands | of others who owe their health and strength te “atest of all reinedies, GOLD WATCH SENT POSTPAID J on { You will find one coupon inside each 2 ounce bag, and two coupons inside each 4 ounce bag of For 2 Coupons and $2.00. DurHam TOBACCO. ‘The watch is Electro Gold Plated, a good time keeper, quick stem wind, and stem set. eel peta far below its value to induce bacco. you to try this To! coupons with name and address to BLACKWELL'S DURHAM TOBACCO CO., Durham, N.C. Buy a bag of this Celebrated Smoking Tobacco and read the ‘Coupon which gives a list of other premiums and how \CCEPTED. to get them. 2<cENT STAMPS Ai If eversbody bought cheap shoes all the time the people would soon be a lot of acrobats, walking on their hands, bolding thelr crippled, tortured feet high in the air to give them little rest. COMFORT IS OUR HOBBY. Strange after talk- ing so much against cheap shoes that we would = - = TOTP OETEIAS CECHSEEOO Receiver's Sale. : John A. Hamilton, Receiver. Cos tand Less For Groceries, &c. 4 turn around and offer you a good, reliable Shoo HIS sale offers a great oppor- tunity to buy FINE GROCER- for $8.50. Not strange, either, for it’s a §5 Shoe. $8.50 is our price. Wilson, 929 F St. Sw @ For Full Set = ARTIFICIAL —W TEETH. -——---— For §8—below the price of the oniinary—we'll make you the very ¢ finest set of ARTIFICIAL TEETH. ¢ Guaranteed to be durable, natural} = Melike and perfect” fitting. Have us examine your advise you—gratis. ) ING- painless—60 CENTS. é ) Evans Dental Parlors, 1217 Penna. Ave. N. W. mb14-244 Tree Removed. ‘The new offices of the Gas Ap. ance age are located at 424 New York avenne northwest. line of Largest a8 Stoves had Ranges in the elty—at prices that are much lower than you'd pay elsewhere, ‘Bwerything in the way of gas a nces— ft the lurgest to the smallest—devices that save expense on fuel. Gas Appliance Exchange, 1424 New York Ave. - FeStee eSses SRELREIOAOH SLES PRESCRIPTION 4887, FOR Rheumatism. prescription of one of Washington's “Idost and most ominent physicians. nt ntly cures RHFUMATISM, NEURAL: jpaime dve to URIC ACID potson. It purities the ind pains die to . Tt purifies the blood, stimulates and restores, the kidnera.improves the health and gives tone and vigor to the entire syetem. Price, $1 per bottle; trial size, S0c. KOLB PHARMACY, 438 § Easter is fast) scence geen oe Easter Cards. the Approach- ing, John C. Parker, . G1T-619 7th st. nw. place to get them. A large Assortment at popular prices. t =e Best Mainspring, All work guaranteed for 1 ir. We lave all grades of Bia ani In Gold-alted Watch for $1 eT me ee Eien aE AHN oes eS We've acquired the art of mending choice china and cut glass and ar- tistic bric-a-brac. We fit and fasten the fragments together without leay- ing a trace of the joint visible. We assure you the most satisfactory re- sults at the most reasonable prices. We'll call if you wish. R.C. BOND&CO. mb17-164 Room 2, °9 935 F St. - IES, Wines and Cigurs CHEAP. This ts the “Trinngle” Brand Cora. California Apricots. California Cherries... California Asparagus Armour’s White Label Soups. Columbia Soups... Joe Wright's Cigars, per bundred..... Champagnes and Whiskies. Imp. Dry Monopol Imp. Dry Monopole. Imp. Dry Royal........ Domestic Perle DOr. . -qts., $4 case. Fluch’s Golden Weddng Whisky OM Crow Whisky. “+.$10.09 doe. Mt. Vernon “Old -$11.00 doz, James L. Barbour & Son 614-616 Penna. Avenue. Jno. A. Hamilton, Receiver. mh14-69d POF SHITE 4990S S S59 SOS GODOT G08 096060099 000098 b , BITTERS DYSPEPSIA, BILIOUSNESS, LIVER COMPLAINT, NEURALGIA, CONSTIPATION, And all KIDNEY DISEASES, For Sale by E. P. Mertz, Modern Pharmacist, Cor. 11th and F Sts. N. W. fe24-3m42 P+ o+< 0D + DP >EDP>DP>D?DP>P > P>e+e)| we se = =r = == a. 25 = Great Reduction 4 In Hair. Switches, - formerly $5.1 Professional’ Wigs for hire. S. HELLER’s, 720 7th Street N. W. $030-204 FA 10 AL WE = ‘on application Daid beads, information to grow hal ° Teove scurf and dane (uf, relieve Itching scalp, stop Bair’ falling," prodice ‘Ove heir to 1 : ir to tte original color. C. D. LORRIMER & CO., Balt Md. mito ONE BOTTLE EVERY Day ANHEUSER-BUSCH’'S MALT-NUTRIN means from 2 to 5 pounds a week gained in healthy Sesh. $a8-w&ef,26t 50. $10.50.