Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-19


had her cautiously along the rugged road Of
knowledge, and after that through the fields
OF poesy and song
/ shall esteem myself most happy, if, in
the distant future, | shall be able to send
forth from this Institution some polished in
tellect, enamored with learning, who shall
Give to the Tyre Of Heaven another string"
REMARKS To THE GRADUATING CLASS.
YOUNG LADIES OF THE SENIOR Glass:
You are now about to go.out from, this Semi
nary hallowed by pleasant memories, to
act your part on the great stage Of
life You have just begun life; this is your
commencement day. Are you ready for the
Journey? Some Of you may feel timorous
and unequal to great deeds. Tell me not
that you can have no infuene on your age.
Homes and hearts and estates are in your
hands. Act noble part; keep conscience
clear ;ssubdue passion; appreciate modesty I;
elevate ambition, and remember that vast
world of human beings is now before you,
whose happiness you may promote, or
whose sorrows you may alleviate. Re
member, also, that as you 60 forth bearing
the honors of this Institution, you are the ex-
ponents of its virtues.
We will not hatter you with the delusiOn
that YOU are perfect. All we have done
ali any institution can dds to give you
the chisel and the mallet and lead you to the
quarry af Pentelicus
You are the first Senior class, and we who
have instructed you, beg to assure you that
we feel for each of you, personally, the
liveliest interest in life. If you are prosper
Gus, we shall be happy.
In token of your worthiness, and in
the name of this Seminary, confer upon
each of you this Diploma.
GAS AND GAS METERs.-All consumers of
gas must have noticed the variations in the
bills, which the gas companies present, and
they are unable to account for them in any
other way than on the supposition that the
gas meters are not accurate These meters
are manufactured for the gas companies and
are solely under their control so that the
consumers have no guarantee for their cor
rectness other than the honor of the compan-
les who supply them. Without questioning
the honor of these companies, many have
come to think that it would be eminently
more satisfactory to have the gas meters I'M
der the control Of competent inspectors.
This subject has excited attention in Europe,
and the English people who have had lon
ger experience than we have, have found
that the public could not be protected except
by having an inspector of meters and of gas,
and is there any reason to suppose that gas
companies in this country are more honest
than they are in that country? Our national
government fixes the standard of weights
and measures, and these latter must be in
spected once year, and Oftener If any one
doubts their accuracy. In our State we have
inspectors of -four, beef, pork, and many
other articles of domestic consumption, and
why should we not have inspectors of gas
and gas meters? No meter ought to be put
up in any public or private dwelling, factory
or store, unless it has passed through the
hands Of a competent inspector, who should
give a certificate that the meter registers
accurately the amount of gas which passes
through il. Meters may be manufactured
that will not register more than half the gas,
and again they can be manufactured so as
to vary hundred feet in thousand; and
yet give no indication that they are re-
corded incorrectly. While such is the
fact, there is no place where the con-
sumers can have their meters tested, ex-
cept at the manufactures, which are under
the control of the gas companies, or at the
office of the latter. How then, if the gas
companies should make out their bills fifty
per cent. beyond the amount of gas con-
sumed, can the consumer test the accuracy OF
his meter? As they are managed at present
this is impossible, and we are of opinion
that this subject so long neglected, should
L. NH oh,
With regard to regulating the consumption
of gas more judgment might be used, and
the consumers would find that their bill
would be materially reduced. Meters should
be placed in warm situations, where the tenn
perature is uniform, for the hydrocarboniC
| vapors, which are the true source of light, are
condensible, and a meter containing four or
five per cent of these vapors will deposit
more or less of them in going into cold
meter and passing through cold mains. Old
| burners should be changed for new ones, for
the longer a burner is used the more gas II
will consume These and many other facts
would become known if we had inspectors
of gas and gas meters. The gas companies
are aware of them, but it is not for their in
terest to divulge them. Again there is a
great difference in the quality Of gas; that
made from Camel coal, for instance, is
worth twice as much to the consumer as that
produced from Virginia, Newcastle, Pitts
burg or other similar Goals. The modes OF
arriving in the comparative amount of gas
| produced by different kinds of coal, are va
rious, and it has been found that mixture
| of certain kinds will yield a gas, which the
companies can supply at a great profit, and
which the consumers accept without COM
| plant But if the latter knew how much
| better gas could be and ought to be made
! they would demand better quality even il
the company dividends should be materially
lessened. Our limits will not permit us &c
| go into more extended examination o.
this subject, but enough has been said tc
awaken the attention, and to convince those
| interested, that inspectors of gas and ga:
meters are needed, in order that the public
may enjoy a supply uniform in its quality
and such as shall never fall below fair stan
| dard, and in order that such meters may be
| furnished rs will accurately indicate the
| amount of gas which passes through them
| These inspectors would have it in their pow,
er to impart much useful information anC
to enforce suitable regulations, which would
prevent all waste The citizens too would
then have some voice in the management
of the affairs of the companies which supply
them, and no private corporation would en-
Joy the right of supplying a domestic neces
sity, without submitting to reasonable pub
| lie control.-Netg York Era