The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-10
[ From the Philadelphia Ledger J
GAS AND GAS ETERS


The frequent disputes which arise between gas
companies and their customers as to the accuracy
of the meters. to require that different sys-
tenn of inspection should be established. Gas com
panles are and from the nature of the case must be
to great extent monOpOlies. That is, it is but sell
dom, even in the most crowded cities, that two
companies can and do supply the same streets, or
have the right to lay down their pipes in them
The result is, that every family wanting gas is
either obliged to submit tn the rates and reguIa-
tons imposed on them by the company, or 90 with
out. After house has been fitted up at the ex-
pense of from one to five hundred dollars, and the
lhuaoltants have once got used to this light, and
are without convenences for any other, the threat
Vi company to cut off their supply makes them
Ieauy TO submit. The first thing that the Legisla-
tule snouiu 90 where monopoly exists for the sup
y oi so necessary an article light, ITO regul ate
.ue PIlce VI IT, Inc next thing to have the quail
" OF gas inspected, to see that customers are not
defrauded by being furnished with pas of onlv hal
the proper Illuminating power We have known
instances here gas from the same works has at
times, required the addition OF lamps to get a sup
ply OF light sufficient to read by of an evening
Again, the meters are all the property of the
companies; they purchase aud pay for them and
of course the makers see to it that there are no
mistakes against the company. But it is well
known that there often mistakes the other way,
and attributed to falsely registering meters.-
Large consumers would find it worth while to have
meter of their o,On, properly tested and inspected,
and have the gas pass through that also. But there
ouSnI 10 De a law passed IOr inspecting these me-
ters whenever customer chooses to call for it, for
trihing prices and if any time an error or fraud
Is iouno, let an exemplary fine and damages, pro-
poruoned to the error, be paid by the company to
tne consumer or consumers. Each town city
could pass such an ordinance of inspection for itself
and its own protection. A gas COMPANY makes
each consumer bind himself to allow the gas to be
cut off if all the bills of the company are not paid
within a proper time This looks fair, but the
working of it is, that if any one is disposed to be
troublesome or test exorbitant bills, the company
cuts off his gas and need bring an action
against him They have the monopoly Now the
law should provide mat consumers who are willing
to give security to stand the result of suit, shall
be allowed to do so without incurring the risk of
having their supply of gas cut off.
Ihe accuracy of gas meters is a subject which
has been very largely discussed recently in Eng
land. The result of that discussion seems to be
embodied in the following practical conclusions
No meter ought to be put up in any public or private
dwelling, factory or store unless it has passed through
that the meter registers accurately the
of gas which passes through it, Meters may manu-
factured that will not register than half the gas
and ae ain they can be manufactured a
dred feet in thousand and yet give indication that
they are recording incorrectly While such is the fact
there is place where The consumers can have their
meters tested except at the manufactures which are
under the control of the companies at the Office Of
out their bills fifty per cent beyond the gas
consumed can the test the accuracy of his
meter? As they are managed at present. this is impos
the attention which it deserves.
With regard to regulating the consumption of gas,
more Judgment might be used and the consumers would
find that while they the same amount Of light
their bills would be materially reduced. Meters should
be placed in warm situations, where the temperature
UNIFORM Tor the hydTocarbonc vaporS which the true
source Of light condensbe and meter containing
four five cent of these vapors will deposit
less Of them in going into cold meter and passing
through cold mains Old burners should be changed
new ones for the longer burner used the gas
will consume These and many other facts would be-
come n, inspectors
The companies of them but it not for
their interest to divulge them.
"The modes of arriving the comparative amount of
gas produced by different knds of coal various and
it has been found that mixture of certain kinds will
profit, and which the consumers accept without com
pIaint But if the latter knew how much better gas
could be and ought to be made, they would demand a
better quality even If the company dividends should be
materially lessened."
YANKEE ENTERPRISE IN LoEDoN.-Mr. George
Francis Train, alias "YOuDg America" has at last,
after much battling with church-wardens and otheI
parochial authorities got his footing in London
Ii perseverance suTmounts all difficulties then Mr..
Train deserves that his efforts should be crowned
with success. He has managed to keep up a con-
tnual agitation about his pet scheme and his
name, well as his wild telling speeches, ia
miliar to the British public. London is made
to resemble the chief cities of America by the
tual beginning of tramways and h0rse-cars running
upon the highways The spot selected to begin
with is that portion of the Oxford road which lies
Bay swater. There is only single line of rails
laid down on the southern side of the way, next
the Park, with riding here and there. To-day
three were running. They started soon after
ten O'Clock, and they were filed both ways. A
scattered crowd, rather dense at each of the term
nations, collected for the greater part of the
day. noticed in the cars several men who were
active in public life, some connected with railway
engineering, and a good number of Americans.
Early in the afternoon Mr. Train gave a. turtle
lunch to an immense assemblage of nOtables at st.
James great hall, in celebration of the day
There were present members of Parliament. mem
bers of the press, municipal authorities agstrates
authors, artists, engineers, &C., &c. Five-minute
speeches. Chief topics Of the speakers-the tram
ways. the secession at the South, and the Anglo
American alliance-all freely debated with strong
spirit of determination Cor. ". Y Post.
The LOUISVILLE DErALCArloN-A WOMAN IN THE
CAsE.-If there was at any time lingering hope
among the friends of Mr.. n. l.. McClelland, the
missing Tax Collector, that he was no defauter, it
was dssipated yesterday. Further developments
leave no doubt, we are informed, that be has alb
seconded. An examination into his affairs showed
his Indebtedness on March 9th to have amounted
to 500 SOL. He has since paid to the School Fund,
$500, to the City Treasurer S13 600, and to the
Commissioners $4,000, leaving an indebtedness of
S34; 7i3. This will be reduced slightly by the un-
paid listed bills.
His conduct has been somewhat singular. On
the day Of his departure Mr.. Ray, Chief of Police
offered to raise him 81 900, but although he then
must have concluded TO take his departure vet he
refused to accept it, 1t is not improper to say that
he has been in trouble for months about bis pecuni-
ary affairs, and partly owing, it is reported. to
pretended friends to whom he loaned money. His
habits, however, it is believed, were the main
cause of his disgrace. 1t is said he lost large
amounts of money at cards, but of this we know
nothing positive
Common rumor likewise assigns to him "desgn-
ing and pretty woman" other than his wife And
furthermore, that the lady has disappeared quite as
mysteriously as the Collector.-LouisUiUe Courier,
april 6.