Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-24
Tue Act Of Congress fa Regard 90

HAbfisiOHc VI Itc OH passed DIV congress last
session regulating the cost, quality. Sc, OF gas
We, therefore, give below tue fntl text of the
act, which has never before been printed in a
way to reach the public:
AN ACT regulating gas-works.
BE u enacted Jy the Senate and HatSe IF Renre
seHtdiCes Of the Lnited States Of A1qertcd an Con.
gytss assembled, That from aud after the tair
ueth day of june, eighteen hundred aad sew
enty-tOur, the illuminating power OF the "a
furnished by any gas-light company, person or
equal To sixteen candles by the Bunsen photo
meter, using the English parliamentary stand
ard ATgsnd' burner, having fifteen holes and a
seven-1Hch chimney, consuming five cubic feet
OF gas per hour, and such gas shall not contain
mere II an twenty grains of sulphur in any form
in one hundred cubic feet, nor more than i've
grains OF ammonia in any form in one hundred
tubic feet. When the illuminating gas supplied
by any company, person, or persons in the Dis
triet OF Columbia, shall at any one time he of
less Illuminating po1er or of less purity than
GcaeTdiDg to the standard Just heretofore given
IL shall be so reported by the inspector of gas
ana meters TO the company, person, or persons
supplying the same, who shall be subject to q
penalty OF one hundred dollars to be recovered
before the proper tribunal and paid into the
treasury OF the District of Columbia aforesaid,
for each and every day during which such vio-
latiOn shall continue: Provided, hOlcersr, That II
il shall appear that such deviation from the
abcve-named standard could not b ave been pre-
vented by ordinary care aud prudence, bat was
Occasioned by some unavoidable cause, then the
sIid penalty shall not be enforced.
SIC. 2. That suitable and impartial person,
competent as chemist, who is not stock
holder or employee in any gas works, shall be
appointed by the President OF the United
States, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, to be designated and known as in
sOector OF gas and meters, whose compensation
shall be salary OF two thOusadd dollars per an
mum, and whose duties shall be TO test and de.
te' mine the Illuminating power and purity of
the gas furnished by any company, person. or
persons in the District of Columbia; and to test,
prove. and seal all meters that may be hereafter
U.S. d by them; and that a suitable person, who
snail be gas frter by trade, shall be appointed
by the President, as aforesaid on the recon-
incubation of the Inspector of gas and 10 aters
as sn assistant inspector, at a salary OF one
tnous and dollars per annum, who shall assist in
the duties specified under the direction of the
inspector OF gas and meters.
SIC. B. That a laboratory shall be provided
ana htted up by the Washington Gas-light com
pany, subject to the approval of the inspector,
IN the central part of the city of Washington,
at distance a. near as may be, OF two thousand
feet from any gas works, and furnished with
Suitable apparatus for the transaction OF the
business OF the inspector and assistant Inspect
or, tor which IL is Intended, and the laboratory
shall be kept open on all business DAYS between
the hours OF eight O'Clock in the forenoon aud
i've O'Clock in the afternoon: Pr0rided, That
the cost OF fitting mp said laboratory shall be
paid for by each gas company in the District Of
Columbia In proportion to their sale of gas for
the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three
SIC. 4. That the company, person or persons
furnishing the gas may, if they see fit, on each
tor or assistant inspector, be represented by
some officer, but such officer shall not interfere
IN the testing.
SEC. 5. That daily inspections, Sundays ex
cepted, shall be made in conformity to the in
tent OF this act between the hours OF five and
eleven O'Clock in the afternoon, and a record
snaIl De Kept Of each inspection, giving the
Illuminating power and purity, which shalI be
open 10 the public, and a copy of the daily in
spection shall be furnished the following day to
the company, person, or persons furnishing the
u IN ha fNry cha
Monday, and full report for the month to be
furnished, upon request, TO any daily paper
printed in the city OF Washington on the day
OF their publication, next after the twenty
fourth day OF each month, to include each DAYS
test from the date of previous publication, aud
giving the average illuminating power for the
SEC. 6. That all bills for gas furnished by any
company, person, or person. shall state the
average Illuminating power for the month; and
If the same shall fall below sixteen candles, "a
in this act prescribed, then the amount of the
bill shall be reduced pro rata.
SEC. :. That i'll testing meters, the inspector
or assistant inspector shall ascertain whether
he meter is OF proper construction, and requires
snly the pressure of a column OF water indicated
Oy the water guage, commonly used for such
tests, OF one fourth OF an inch nigh 20 work it,
and whether il works regularly aud correctly
and registers exactly the amount OF gas pa sssing
through II, nrst, a. the rate the meter il marked
TO supply; secondly, a. one-third its rate; third
ly, at twice Its rate. The standard foot shall be
one cubic foot, containing sixty-two and three
hundred and trency-one one -thousapdths
pounds, aVeirdupois weight, OF distilled water
at the temperature OF sixty-two degrees Fshr-
enheit, and with a bsrometricai pressure OF
thirty inches; and meters registering within two
per centum either way of the exact number OF
such feet passing through them at the first
named rate, and within three per centum at
the second and third rates, and no Others sh ali
be deemed accurate and be stamped by the in
spector. The inspector shall keep at the labor
atory a correct record OF all meters inspected
oy him, with their proof at the time or inspec-
ton, which record shall be open at all times 90
he public for any reasonable examination by
any company, person, or persons having any
interest therein.
SEC. 8. That any gas meters now in use shall
be proved and tested on the written request of
the consumer of gas on whose premises it may
be, ana IN his presence, IL he requires, upon the
payment IN advance TO the inspector or assist.
ant inspector OF fifty cents for each and every
meter inspected, proved, and sealed, and il any
such meter. on being tested, shall be found 70
register inaccurstely TO the injury OF the con-
-umer TO al extent exceeding two per centum,
the fee OF tfty cents shall be returned to the
person applying for said inspection and be paid
TO the inspector by the company, person or per-
sons supplying the gas; and every such meter
snail be considered correct, and sealed accsrd-
iDgly, which shall register quantities VARYING
from the standard measure of gas OF not more
than two per centum, and record shall be
kept OF the same ard OF all fees so collected
And all meters hereafter used by any gas
companies, person or persons, shall be
fist inspected, proved, and sealed at the
such inspection, proving. and sealing the COM
Pany, in the first instance, and thereafter tie
company, person, or persons applying TO have
the meter inspected, shall pay fifty cents for
each meter, record of which shall be kept aud
OF the fees 80 collected; and all fees shall be sp-
piled to the payment Of the expenses for main
tanning ard keeping in good order and repair
the laboratory and apparatus.
SEC. .. That each company, person, or per-
sons manufacturing Illuminating gas in the Dis
trlet or Columbia, shall, when required, in
writing, by the inspector of gas and meters
orlDg TO the laboratory any meter that NAV
have been required to be inspected, proved and
sealed, and TO return the same to its proper
place after such inspection; and it shall not be
lawful for any other party or person to remove
and return meters.
SEC. 10. That the inspector and assistant in
spector of gas and meters shall each give bonds
to the extent of double his annual salary, and
snail each take an oath or Affirmation, before
some oticer legally qualified to administer the
same, that he will faithfully, diligently and
impartially discharge the duties OF bis once.
SIC. IL. That the Washington Gss-light COM
pany shall be authorized, on and after the pas
sage Of this act, to charge and receive for illu-
ninating gas furnished to and paid for by the
Government Of the United States, at the rate of
two dollars and nifty cents per one Thousand
cubic feet; and when furnished and paid for bv
other parties, or by the Inhabitants of the citv
OF Washing gton, at the rate Of two dollars and
49, ~. Iva ae0