The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-28

crumble at, but in many cases the enor-
nous bills of which they complain are
due to their own negligence or ignorance
in burning gas, and for this reason and
a desire to enable gas consumers to save
expense and stop grumbling, we pro-
pose giving a little information in the
matter:
In lighting gas, turn the gas on the
metre about one-half; then light your
Gas, and regulate the lights by the stop
cock that lets the gas in the metre.
This prevents the pressure of gas from
making the clock part or index move
so fast. For instance, the more weight
Won add to n clock the faster 1t goes,
and in the same way the more pressure
of gas on the metre the faster the index
moves, and the larger will be yonr bill.
Again from the time you light your
gas until or 9 o'clock the pressure IS the
same. but after the stores and shops
close up it makes the pressure OF gas
greater on your metre; then turn the
stopcock off to please yourself IN hight,
and when you are not using the gas
turn it off altogether from the metre.
This will save you money. More gas IS
consumed in the upper part OF mousse
than in the lower, because the pressure
is greater; but you can stop the pres
sure and waste of gas by unscrewing
the burner aud packing it with cotton
or felt. You can thus make the light
as small as you please, and if You have
a person in your house who is in the
habit of wasting the gas just try this
plan, and see if it don't save you
much expense. You can regulate all
the. lights in your house by this
plan, and the packing will last long
time. High pressure on a burner, while
it wastes gas, produces a feeble light;
while a low even pressure, while 1t con-
sumes less gas, is found to produce the
best light, and Saving in the consnmp-'
ton of gas can be effected to the extent
of % to 50 per cent, and also the dry,
disagreeable heat given out by gas burn
ing at high pressure will be done away
with; and thus is afforded n more pure
and healthful atmosphere for the lungs
to breathe.
A dry metre can be placed in any po-
sition, and it will register the same.
but it is best to set it entirely level;
and if it be made correctly 1T is the best
for the consumer. The wet metre can
be made to register more gas than you
burn. The action of the water gas me-
tire is generally understood. The gas is
introduced at central opening OF the
measuring drum, which is sealed with
water. The pressure is eXerted upon
the surface of the water, and the dlaSo-
nal division of the revolving wheel
which is the measuring chamber OF
the water metre. The revolutions of
the wheel caused by the passingof the
gas are shown by the index. In set
ting the metre it should be perfectly
.level to make it register correctly for
the consumer and the gas company.
Now the effects of this metre can be
easily evadcd by various methods
correctness of its ,rIcusnreineht dcpchus
entirely upon the water in the metre
being kept at the proper height. The
water should be level, to allow small
stream to run out of the side screw. III
the water be above it, it is against the
consumer, and if below it, it is against
the gas company. 1t will burn if there
is only water sufficient to raise the
float. Thus, for instance, if the metre
should be inclined forward and the wa
ter drawn off by the side screw, so as to
unseal the outlet of the measuring
chamber, the gas passes through 1t
without affecting the index, and with
out being registered at all. If the me
tire is inclined back it will register in
favor Of the company.
Many gas consumers think they are
bound to pay any bill the company
sends them. This is not so. If they
make q mistake you are not bound TO
pay for more gas than the metre calls
for. If the metre is not in order it is
the company's fault, and it is their duty
to have it examined once q month, and
to keep it in good order, so that it may
register fairly. There should be
an index register for each con-.
sumner, and if the gas company wish to
do justice it will . not object to
put on the index register the amount
consumed. 1t is an old practice with
companies, if they think the consumer
has not burnt as much gas as he should
have done to suit their notion, to make
out an average bill and TO take away
the metre. saying it does not register
correctly, and send another. But the
company has no right to make an aver
age bill-no right whatever. The law
will not allow any person to guess at
the amount of your bin. You are not
bound to pay for more gas than your
metre calls for.