Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-28
R.puIatius Gas COmpanies--water Gas.

Regulating Gas COmpanies--water Gas.
Impositions of Gas Companies constitute
fruitful theme of petitions to the Legislature OF
New York, and it is quite probable that some
general law will be enacted properly regulating
such companies in that State. The petitions
ask for a general law to prohibit gas companies
from charging rental on gas meters, believing it
to be as unjust as for other dealers to charge for
the use of their measures for their own commod-
ities; requiring the appointment of Inspectors
to ascertain the quality of the gas sold, and in
case of decline, to compel pro rata reduction
10 price; requiring Inspectors to examine me-
tiers and ascertain whether they register cor
recty; prohibiting companies from making out
average bills; compelling companies to supply
consumers with gas when asked to do so,
whether the previous occupant has paid his bill
or not; voiding all compulsory agreements be-
tween companies and consumers; and compel
ling gas companies to leave with consumers the
amount when they take the index.
Some such legal regulations are due to gas
consumers everywhere. As it is now, dealing
with gas companies is all on one side. The
quality, the measurement, as well as the price,
are in their own hands All the consumer can
do is topay the bills presented, whether correct
or not, or go without gas His bills may fuc-
tuate from so to rs per cent. per month, as is
sometimes the case, which he can neither ac-
count for nor prevent. He is at the mercy of
the corporation, and corporations have no
souls"
That gas companies should be permitted thus
to deal with the public, without being subject
to any inspection of article furnished or cor
rectness of meters, shows confidence in the
fairness and integrity of the management
companies rarely awarded by authorities to in
dividuals In the matter of wood for fuel in
cities inspectors are appointed although it takes
two to make bargain, and the commodity can
be readily and correctly measured by the buyer.
Most assuredly in the costly matter of gas light,
where the buyer has no opportunity whatever
to test or change quality or measurement, a
competent inspector should guarantee fair deal
ing between the company and the consumers.
Honest gas companies would not object to such
regulations, and gas buyers would be better
satisfied that they get in all cases, their moneys
worth. Our remarks have general appica-
ton.
We observe that in Toronto there is great
complaint among gas consumers, and that
although coal was never so cheap, gas was
never so dear. The price is five dollars per
1000 feet, gross; with deduction of one third
if paid within fifteen days after the end of the
quarter The Toronto Leader suggests the use
of''Wster Gas" as the remedy, and states that
water gas has been successfully manufactured
in that city, during the last nine months, on
the premises of Messrs. MOrphy d Bros, jewel
lers, of Yonge street Their store is regularly
lighted by it, and the quality is good 1t is
generated on their own premises by an appara-
tus which cost only about $500. Fourteen
burners are used and the saving is fully one
third as compared with the prices charged by
enhances the price. For 200 burners, gas can
be produced irrespective of the cost of appara-
tus, for seventy-fve cents per thousand feet
The proprietor Of the Leader is about to adopt
the new plan of making gas from water for this
extensive establishment. Apparatus for sup
plying one hundred lights will cost about S400.
Other large consumers will also erect water gas
works.
According to the Toronto Leader, water gas
is success in portions of Europe. The town
of Londonderry, in Ireland, and city in France,
are lighted by it, and even in and near Man
chester, England, where coal is cheap, several
large factories are lighted by water gas. The
Leader says some idea of the reduction in gas
bills following the general substitution in a city
of water gas, may be- e'obtained from what has been
done elsewhere. "In Londonderry the price of
gas came down from ten or twelve to five shilings
per thousand feet, on the substitution of water
for coal gas. And the quality of the former is
said to be SO much superior to the latter, that
one thousand feet of water gas is equal to three
Thousand feet of the coal gas. But if we sup
pose them to be only equal in point quality, the
advantages of water gas are still enormous"
An interested public would be glad to be fur
ther posted touching the mode of manufacture
ing and success of water gas works in Toronto.
elE=S