The Portland daily press., 1872-07-18
partIaud Gas Light Comuauy.

The annual meeting OF this corporation was
held yesterday afternoon. The President, Ed
ward H. Daveis, Esq, says in his report:
The business of the company has gone on the
past year without accident or loss and with a
reasonable measure of success. The consump-
ton of gas has increased but little. being Al,
100000 feet against 40, 1852 900 feet last wear, an
increase of $4,000 feet. The number of street
lanterns is 3S7 an increase of H. Meters in
use 2.792, an increase of SO. The old gas-hold-
er which was out OF use at the last annual
meeting, it was found could not be replaced
without great expense and delay and it was
concluded to repair the upper section only, the
only part needed for present use This was done
AT small expense and in season tor use last fall
giving In all, storage capacity OF about 2S5,-
900 feet, all that will be required for several
years.
The plan of the street mains was burned in
the fire of 1866 Measurements have been
taken since from time to time, and the location
of nearly all the pipes ascertained with suffi
cent accuracy. A new plan is making, most
important work and when complete will have
cost very little for the time occupied, and du-
plicate will be constructed from it. The Inter-
nal Revenue tax of twenty cents per thousand
feet of gas is to cease after August LIST, and the
Directors have voted to reduce the price of all
gas consumed after that date to So 1-3 per
thousand, with ten per cent discount for
prompt payment making the net price $3 per
Thousand, which is as low as it is prudent to
put it and very low compared with other cities.
The city gas agent, MIR. Senter in his last re-
port, recommended that an Inspector of Gas
should be appointed. This has not yet been
acted upon by the City Council, but the direc-
tors have fitted up Photometer room in the
new office ut the Works, with all the necessary
apparatus and appliances for testing the quail
ity of the gas and Mr.. Senter has been invited
to make use of it at any time, until an Inspec-
tor has been appointed, and has done SO. He
has not felt called upou to make any report
and it can only be said that he has found no
fault with the quality. 1t is believed that the
illuminating power of the COmpanys gas is
equal to the best made in the country, and the
company are ready it should be measured by
that standard. Where good light is not given
it is generally owing to poor burners and i'm
perfect piping and in winter to getting impov-
erished by passing through frozen ground in
which the mains are laid, and where the ser
vices are exposed in open areas The gas in
spector would determine the quality of the gas
as sent from the Works, and his frequent in
spectiOns without notice to the company would
be more satisfactory to consumers than the
assertioLs The Mcllhenny patent
used for three years in the works, still gives
perfect satisfaction its results proved all that
was promised and not offset by accident or in
of any kind The office at the
Works was completed last summer at cost of
about $3.50 and is substantial and convenient.
AT the wharf 105 new piles have been driven
and the whole top-work will have to be made
new.
The report of the Treasurer James T. Nc
Cobb, ESQ.,, shows cash on hand at beginning
of the year, SIG, ,S29.85; receipts, $153 361 81
total, Sl70, 1871; expenditures $146, ,10099;
leaving cash in the treasury ,So4 900 30. The old
board of directors and the Treasurer were unan-
imousy reelected as follows: Edward III.
Daveis, Charles Holden, Rufus E. Wood, Thos.
Ezra Carter, and Charles B. Mer-
rill James L. McCobb, Treasurer.