Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-11-21

A1ONN ~ AAg90 - S--
The Vsraeity of gas companies Is often
called iato question by Consumers oil thAt
article, though with bow much justice is
not, of course, for us to decide. The en-
ployees Of the company maintain that they
deal honestly by their customers, and the
latter, knowing that they are in the power
of the company, often pay their bills feel
log dissatisfaction. The matter Of dissat-
isfacrtou might be easily remedied. The
process of reading the metre is almost as
simple as telling the time Of day BY clock,
and may be acquired by any person Of
common intelligence 10 ten minutes. Be
low We give a brief explanation:
AT the top OF the metre is placed
small tin case, three or four inches long,
UbiSh opens by means OF = little door IN
front, and diselOses plate with three small
dials, about an inch 10 diameter, which
are furnished with Oue pointer apiece,
moved by cog wheels and piniOns On the
inside, which in turn, are made TO reVoiVe
by a large wheel propelled by the
passage of the gaR The circle on
the dial is divided into ten spaces, number
ed arou1d the edges with 6gurrs, like the
dial of "A clock The dial OF the extreme
right indicates, by means Of its pointer, the
burning of loo feet Of gas the dial in the
middle indicates the burning OF 1000 feet
and the dial on the left theSaTuing Of TO-
600 feet. For instance, the three pointers
will stand at cypheI. The pointer on the
right hand dial having moved from CIPHER
to figure one, indicates that 100 feet OF gas
have been consumed. Il il move to tie
two, 200 feet, and so on until the pointer
has gone around the circle aud again
reached the CIPHER. when 1900 feet have
been consumed. When this point has been
reached, the eye will be directed to the Rext
dial, when it will be foand that the pointer
has moved to the figure one, indicating that
900 feet have been eousumed. The
pointer on the frat dial continues on, and
sTill marking the amount passing
Suppose that at the end Of the frat month,
the pointer on the FIRST dial stands
at eight, that on the second between one
aud TWO, it is easy to understand that
800 feet hsve been consumed. When
the pointer on the second dial reaches two,
that on the frat is agin At CIPHER, iudica-
ting that 1000 feet have heen consumed
Thus Il goes on until the pointer on the
second dial has made the circuit which
indicates that 10000 feet have been con
sumed, wheR the pointer 90 the third dial
will stand At one. This, 70 turn, with an
entire revolution indicates that 100, 600
feet have been consumed. Taking the
three dials in connection the exact amount
in cubic feet may thus be RscertAipej,
eommencing anew every time 100. 600 feet
have been run through the metre, and been
consumed. Now, to ascertain the exact
amount of gas which will be consumed in
n house during the coming month Of De-
cember, inspect the dials Of the metre
on the fret OF the mouth, the pointer on
the left hand diaIperhaps stands between the
figures and Z, indicating 90. 900 feet. The
pointer on the middle dial stands between
and ., indicating 5000 feet, aud the
pointer on the right hand dial Stands he.
tween and 8, Indicating 100 feet. You
thus have total Ut s., 100 feet OF gas pre-
viousiy consumed. Set these figures down f,
and at the end Of the mOnth again inspect
the dial. TIE right hand dial stands, per.
haps, nearly AS before, and sIilI indicates
90 900 feet. The middle one has moved
90, aud stands between and 8, indies
ting 1000 feet. The right hand one has
| made a number of reVOlpIiOas aud stands
between l and ?, indicating loo feet. We
| then have 3 total OF 81. 100 feet Subtract
from this the number set down At the be-
ginning OF the month, and you have ! 400
feet consumed. Multiply this by the prics
per cubic foot, and you have your gas bill
for the mOoth. II bOusekevPeFs would take
the trouble to do this themselves, they
would satisfy themselves aud be sure 70
guard against mistakes.