The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-02
THE GAS QUESTION ABROAD

Baltimore, it appears is not the only city in the
Union where the gas monopoly is felt to be an OPP
pressive burden upon consumers, justifying and re-
quiring legislative interposition. The Cincinnati
Daily Gazette of Saturday, under the editorial head
ing of ''Complaints about Cas- has the following
remarks:
1t is somewhat singular that in most of the lead
ing cities of the United States gas consumers have
for some time past, been complaining loudly, and
bitterly because of an unexpected and unaccount-
able increase in their gas bills. Everywhere, it is
said, the greatest economy has been practiced BY
consumers, but this did not check the advancing
tendency in the charges eff the Gas Companies
Down went the lights andup went the bills. In Gin
cinnati complaints of this character are universal
Nine-tenths of the consumers, we have reason to
think, believe they are paving for great deal more
gas than they consume. They cannot be made to
believe the consumption increased in proportion to
the charges. Neither they explain the apparent
discrepancy.
The state of the meters was carefully noted from
month to month"; and the figures found to agree
with those rendered by the Company. So far there
fore, the meters indicate, everything appears to
be correct. What then is the mater? There is
something wrong. 1t is useless to DENY this 1t is
hardly possible that private families and others,
without any increase in the number of burners in
spite of every effort to economic, and with the aid
of all the modern contrivances, for reducing the
flow of gas, could consume from thirtythree to fifty
per cent more gas than in the corresponding months
w
ter? Is there no scientific man among us that can
throw light on the subject? Will the Gas Company
favor the public with an explanation?
The Harrisburg Herald ofyesterday, also contains
some remarks which are applicable to our own
case
In a communication to the New York DAILY Times,
Robert Prince, of Brooklyn n Y, asserts that all
the meters made in that city, for the gas companies
are designedly constructed to indicate a consump-
ton OF about hfteen per cent OF gas greater than
the real amount. Some years since, he became in
terested with manufacturer of gas meters. which
were made with indexes that truly indicated the
amount consumed, but the gas companies would not
purchase them, consequently, the manua cturer re-
ferred to- obliged to give up the business or at
tach false indexes to his meters; he works to the
order of these companies, and is literally patroni-
zed by theml
In calling attention to this important matter the
Scientific American remarks that as gas companies
provide their own meters the persons who consume
the gas are not able to tell whether they are de-
ceived or not. Mr.. Prince recommends that all gas
meters be placed under competent public '.Meter
Inspector" and that those who the gas be per-
mitted to purchase stamped meters where they
please. He also asserts that no gas company can
prosecute for debt as they cannot prove by law the
correctness of any gas BILL and for this reason they
prosecute but cut off the supply of gas from
debtors. This is question which deserves to be
probed to its very core If the gas meters made
alleged by Mr.. Prince, of course the public must
be greatly wronged by the gas companies.
We agree with the Lancaster Express, s'that this
would be good subject for the attention of the
Legislature of this State at its present session.
Perhaps the most effectua way of reforming the
abuse of the present SYSTEM would be to cause the
person who makes out the bills, give sworn state
ment of their correctness, thing which some peo-
ple doubt somewhat whether some of them could
do under their present liberty without stretching
their conscences very much.