The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-03-17

GAS INSPECTORS An important bill
has been introduced into the Senate of
New York for the regulation of gas. The
gas companies of New York and Brooklyn
are required to make semi-annual state
ments Of their capital, expenditures, re-
ceipts, profits and losses, and monthly
to the Mayors, statement of the maxi
mum amount of pressure used in driving
the gas through the supply pipes, and
also of the illuminating power Of the gas,
both for each day ofthe preceding month.
The bill provides for inspectors whose
duty it shall be to inspect all gas meters.
| The gas companies are required to supply
gas to all applicants who shall offer
adequate security, and the inspectors
alone have the power to cut off the sup
ply.-Erchange.
RELIABILITY OF GAS METERs.-Quite
an animated discussion has been going
on in the Baltimore papers for some time
in reference to the reliability of meters,
in determining the quantity of gas con-
cumed, which has disclosed some interest
| ing facts to the consumers. They are
collated in the following paragraphs
! Herald
I, A writer in the Baltimore American
declares very positively that the mode of
measuring gas is altogether fallacious-
that it furnishes no proof of the actual
quantity consumed, and that this is so
| notorisusly true that the evidence Of a
meter would not be received in court of
law as proof Of the correctness ola charge.
A writer in the Scientific American as
serts that all the meters in New York.
used by the gas companies, are designed
ly constructed to indicate consumption
of about fifteen per cent. of gas greater
than the real amount. Some years since
the writer (Mr. Prince, of Brooklyn) be-
came interested with manufacturer of
gas meters which were made with in
dexes that truly indicated the amount
consumed, but the companies acould not
purchase them. consequently the manu-
facturer referred to, was obliged to give
up the business or attach false indexes to
his meters; honow works TO he order Of
these companies.
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 use the gas be permitted
to purchase stamped meters where they
please.
We fully endorse this suggestion for an
Inspector, aud we trust some steps may
be taken at an carly day by our own
city authorities, for the appointment of
such an officer. The facts we have given
show that the evil is an alarming one,
and we hope that no time will be lost by
the public in protecting itself against
so unmitigatcd swindlc. A,tqusts
Chonile.
Have we any.of these fraudulent me-
tiers among us2 If we have, it is time our
city was thinking about appointing a
Gas Inspector here, to see justice done
the consumers. 1t is hard enough to
have to pay high price erlra for gas, and,
as we are forced to do here, for the use of
meters, but if The meters should prove to
be such as the party Mr. Prince was
interested with, was manufacturing for
the New York Gas Companies, it would
be the unkindest cut of ALL Shall .hcre
not be an Investigation?