The New York herald., 1871-12-03
THE GAS QUESTION.
A Consumer Who Has Strong Views ON tho
Supply oi Gas and Who Has an Idea About
Gns0ttiug.

Supply oil Gas and Who Ea, an Idea Abou,
Gnslting.
NEW YORK, Dec. 2 1871.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
With view to prevent the possibility OF any mis-.
carriage OF any legislative enactment aud In order
properly to direct the attention OF all gas consumers
especially, as well as the general public, to the
weaknesses" OF the gas companies TO all their
weak points, 1t Is only necessary to have chem thor
oushly ventilated by the HERALD. The rest OF the
press throughout the length and breadth OF the
country will echo and re-echO the facts until all
everywhere within reach OF the power OF the
press snail comprehend the subject in
manner that few, very few at present
have an idea OF. AS q proof OF the power OF the
HERALD and OF the sensitiveness OF the gas COM
panes at the present time desire to inform you
and through you the pubic, that before your SUM-
days edition could have been issued twenty-iour
| hours the Manhattan Gas Company's men were on
hand with pun and apparatus 10 remove the OBJ
slruc'ion to that $53 per year gaslight compained
OF as burning only about the half Of cents worth
| OF gas per night in the street lamp opposite my
house, and 1t now burns well as the one opposite
the church. Of course, the fact OF the great def.
cheney OF the light from the burner as compared
with the light from the other ana the
company's promptEess in removing the Oh.
srruction involved certain principles that must be
prime Piles that they the consumers are not quite
much the slaves Of these chartered or otherwise
privileged companies as even the companies them.
selves would have US believe. Another principle
or important fact implied, Is that the two street
lamps were at the same instant OF time turning side
BY side with eacn otner, supplied BY the same com
pany, from the same coal, and III every way the
same gas, 1t proves tnat the bad gaslight was not
owing 10 te bad 1as, but to the denciency and In
equality OF the supply; for 1t Is evident n the gas
bad to cause the deficiency 1t would apply
TO both AMI 10 all tine gasllgnts The Manhattan Gas
light Company ls not chartered company,
but Simply . manufacturing company; never.
theless, the oficers respond TO lew words
with the chartered company, the Metropolitan
Az No. l6J Madison avenue the residents had been
aDle caused ny deficiency OF gasllght. When the
light was put little wanted. as during the daytime
there was plenty OF light but at aoout ioar O'Clock
the supply oil light that the servants had To return
TO our "prlmitye rieIds the dips,' or to newer
anu more treacnerou5 and questionable acquaint
ances, the fuid lamps .'witn all the modern iIn-
provementsn tor explosions, destructive OF man and
beast. Your correspondent was invited to ascerta
the cause Of the trouble. lie lound That wet meter
flied with water, IN rather warm place, had caused
continual moisture to penetrate throughout every
gas pipe IN buhdlng tnus II adudlly cnoking up
Tue passages for The gas and preventing The pOssi-
blllty cf that regularity OF supply essential for
the preservation ot good and satisfactory light.
the Metropolitan GaslignG Company'5 President, Mr..
Zoiiiconer was notined' ana Within rev hours the
forcing ing out e r.r rust v ina, nad .n accumuaed
OF @ ,ne nt that % sse % nuisance e. ssinS D an space
necessary one, should have been altogether
prevented. py the adopilon OF dry meter or by
placing the wet meier In cooler I0calty--a very
easy thing TO have done In this instance-and filing
IT, not with water. which evaporates quickly, but
with gycenne, tnat Is equally safe ami does not
evap0rate as alconol or common spirit does. In
aaation to The obstruction 10 the gas at TINS rest
dence still more serious, and even very danger
ous, sample or the loose, needless habits and the
reckIessness OF the gas companies IN regard the
httings, the meters, and, In fact 10 everything
trp
surance, consequently the very lives OF
all gas consumers and their families
Your correspondent Is no al3rnist; he does not
cali attention TO the iacts and the principles ne
illustrates Tor any other object than to prevent the
continuance Of these dangerous and destructive
practlces Of tnOse irresponsible Oricials from the
gas companies, whether chartered or uhchartered,
taking advantage Of The ignorance OF the public az
regards everything connected gas ami the best
small piece or cork mad been used TO stop up the
service pipe, and 80 poorly or slightly was the gas
that buried with name many inches In length.
The servant who discovered the leak mad sense
enough 10 put 0uL the name by smoiherinRit. Most
female servants would nave been unable TO put out
the name. and as 1t was bcneain the meter, serious
consequences must have been the consequence
Mr. Zolc0ffer lnsrepiy 10 the complaint cOoliy said
or hts representative from the metropolitan CON-
pany did for him. That is none OF our business; II
premlses-n Now, SIR. tue gasnlters should
be- or their work a. least should be, examiner
the pay OF the gas companies The present system
OF proving A. required even by the Dest regulated
companies, Is mere sham-a farce But Is this
aDandOnment OF the whole principle ana practice
OF protection by proving the filters work TO be
good and sonnd one among the many modern I'm.
prOvementsr Most unquestionably nO-a Thousand
times no FOL, by a judcious system OF proving ana
holding fast TO that which Is good, many lives and
millions OF dollars worth Of properly would have
and remain yet to DO saved by the adoption OF
sucn additional methods Of proving suggested
by experience and sanctioned by common sense.
The gas companies hitherto have merely required
that the piping OF building should stand q
certain amount OF pressure without leakage. But
All modern science and all the costly experience OF
gas consumers show that when every burner In q
dwelling building Ia In operation or burning the
pressure OF gas on each jet should be equal TO
seven tenths pressure as practical guarantee that
the building shalt be well lighted ~ Gil times, up 10
anv Oranarr necessity. CITIZEN.