The New York herald., 1876-03-08
THE GAS REVOLT.

EXTENT OF THE uPRIsRa-THE METER Al
LEGGED TO BE CONTINUANCE FOR DEcEP-
r1os-oAs ovERTHRowH BY KERosENE-
GRIEVANCES OF CONSUMERS TOLD IN PLAIN
woRDs-FALL IN VALUE OF GAS SHARES.
The inquiries made by reporters OF the HERALD in
different quarters of the city lead to the conclusion
that the revolt OF consumers against the rule of the
gas companies is general and determined than
first supposed The people seem to have fairly risen
against what they deem gross imposition and
tyranny They appear to be very much in
earnest in tho determination TO overthrow the do
mnion OF King Gas and substitute in its place the
sway OF kerosene Protests, complaints and remon-
Erances at end, and action OF very prac-
teal character has taken their place. The measure
ment by the meter Us the chief grievance. but
unreasonable rates and inferior Illumination come next
in order The kerosene lamp takes position
where it unknown before, and a large proportion
of the community congratulate themselves that un-
couth and overbearng agents will no longer be prvI-
legged TO enter their and dwellings without as
much as saving 'sBy your leave.n The matter OF
State meter inspector who charged with the duty OF
testing these when requested by citizen,
and see that the companies keep at their works instru
ments for that purpose, is protection OF little value
The State Inspector paid salary and expenses by the
gas companies By an act passed at the last session
Qs75 Of the Legislature it is provided that no payment
sba be made by the state Comptroller the Inspector
of Meters except till amount equal to such pay
ments shall be received by him from the gas companies
tof the city Of New York; or OF them" Such a
law il is evident is framed in the right spirit for
protection of the public.
EXTENT OF REBELLION.
It would be idle for the gas companies to ignore the
general prevalence OF the rebellion against what the
public have come to consider extortion. The people
have resolved to combat the oppression by making
of a far less expensive light. kerosene and other
burning fluids may probably Will rise in value but
at double their present they will be cheaper than
gas its present price and afford more satisfactory
light. The rates of gas are being reduced every
sde but still greater concessions must be made The
stock OF the companies is going down. and 1t Is under
stood that at least 500 meters have been returned in
this city alone by during the past four or
hve weeks Thus the rebellion against monopoly, dis
courteous treatment and gaspng spreads
and deepens, with no indication at all that we have the
Of IL The this matter is examined the more
serious it appears to be for the gas companies
IMPROVED BURNERS REQUrHGD
Making all allowances for the protests Of consumers
il that much depends in the apparent quality OF
gas and The amount consumed upon the nature OF the
burners employed. The illuminating power OF tho
fund greatly controlled by the form OF the burner
1t matter of common observation that gas may be
deprived of its most valuable effect II made to issue
with great velocity from an ornce, and it is admitted
gas goes through but is not burned with advantage
The companies lose nothing by this escape but rather
gain, that the matter OF good burners is to them of
little moment 1t their duty, however, to furnish
proper burners and such figures would make them
The cheapest and the best But The question arlses-Wi
they seriously and honestly undertake to do sol
sumer whose opinion on the subject was asked yestor
day replied, Judging by the past do not think they
wil II may occur that promises 10 that effect
win be at the present juncture, but they will be
made only to be broken The companies have been
too long knowingly revellng In heavy dividends at the
expense the public and OF the rights of the public to
be trusted general discontnuance OF the gas
for twelve months is the remedy support and will OBJ
servo. y
AN ESGRAvER's OPINION
IN some establishments gas is introduced to be used
as occasion may demand A steel engraver doing bust
the lower part of the city addressed TO
how he found his gas aud gas bills. He said, ''The
meter is in nowse accurate. IL is like all other
mechanical and scientific contrvances subject to de-
rangement, but its errors are always made to tell
against the consumer. They belong to the companies
and they exercise the right put them up
them they deem it, and they insist also upon deposit
OF money before serving their customers The inspec
ton OF meters satisfactory. The empoye comes
and makes his examination in the absence Of the
parties TO be charged, and, without delay, demand is
made for ixed bv him, whether it right or
wrong. II not paid the supply is cut of uncere-
monously. IN vain mistake OF the calculation
insuiciency Of the meter alleged the dial of tho
and the figures Of tho other arc the only
decned by insolent underings to the protests OF the
consumer. 1t lis very long ago that l used gas
during the greater part OF month in the fall, and
settled the account when presented short time
passed; IL winter now but had necessity for
using any light for weeks When, 10 and behold bill
made out for much greater sum than Tor the
gas Remonstrance useless had either TO pay
the money or have the meter removed"
RESULTS OF tue REVOLT.
The New York companies II seems, have yielded a
lttle but, stated before not to such extent
satisfy one in thousand of consumers The Phia-
delpna corporations have substituted So is for 81 go
but the Centennial enthusiasts are not content TO pay
more than 50 per 900 cubic feet and to get bet
ter article into the bargain In Jersey City and Ho
boken the tariffs have been reduced. In Brooklyn the
authorities considering the cxpedency OF substi-
tuting Kerosene for gas in the public buildings and in
every part of the city the feeling Is 10 stand imposition
no longer. The meters being returned by the
in the City OF Churches and there gas STOCKS have
fallen in very decided manner. The Boston papers
state that every day witnesses the opening Of a new
lamp store. The Commercial Bulletin that
the demand is great for these artcles, and many
them much more Efficient ornamental and safe, they
getting TO be exceedingly popular. They
are now generally used for the study and
work tables. The city OF Lynn, IL is said,
gas in lighting tho streets and TO substitute
kerosene, both for economy and the satisfactory
light. This general movement dsposes Of the expana-
ton given by the manufacturers that II is not either
the fact that the people can stand imposition no longer
the superiority of oil that the falling of In gas
consumption (which they admit Is to be attributed, but
TO the depression OF business and desire down
expenses In every possible way. The people having
long submitted determined ''to get square
with the gas companies" They have permitted the
be up at the will and pleasure these
corporations for their aggrandzement who
proceeded upon the principle that there no re-
cprocal obligations on their parts TO the community
except to exact all the money they could from H.
and that in as insOent and unjust as II
they gas companies) of the city The
latter acted toward consumers IN selling the commodity
they manufactured In the spirit III you don't like il
don't take IL; leave IT behind you.' They are now
according 70 what the HERALD reporters can learn,
rcapng their reward.
A GLIMPSE OF RAPID TRANSIT.