Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-03-18
Blu terWick's Gas Bill.
[From the Philadelphia Bulletin

From the Philadelphia Bulletin.l
During one of the few cold snaps
that we have had this Winter the gas
meter in Mr.. Butterwick's house was
frozen. Mr.. Butterwick attempted to
thaw it out by pouring hot water over
1t, but after spending an hour upon
the effort he emerged from the contest
with the meter with his feet and trou-
sers wet, his hair full of dust and cob
webs and his temper at fever heat.
After studying how he should get rid
of the ice in the meter he concluded
to use force for the purpose, and so,
seizing hot poker, he jammed it
around inside of the meter with con-
siderable amount of vigor. He felt the
ice give way, and he heard the wheels
buzz around with rather :sn1ore vehe-
mence than usual. Then he went up
stairs, -.
He noticed for three or four days
that the internal machinery of the
meter seemed to be rattling around in
remarkable manner. 1t could be
heard all over the house. But he was
pleased to find that it was working
again in spite of the cold weather,an
he retained his serenity.
About two weeks afterward the gas
bill came. 1t accused him of burning
during the quarter 1,500, 600 feet of gas,
and it called upon him to settle to the
extent of nearly $350,000. Before Mr..
Butterwick's hair had had time to de-
scend after the first shock he put on
his hat and went down to the gas Of
flee. He addressed one of the clerks:
Chow much gas did you make at
the Blank works last quarter ?"
81 dunno; about 100000 feet, /
reckon"
Well, you've charged me in my
bill for burning 100000 more than you
made; want you to correct it.
Less see the bill. Hmm m; this
Is all right. It's taken off the meter.
That's what the meter says.n
"Spose'n it does; 1 couldn't have
burned more'n you made"
Can't help that. The meter can't
lie.u
Well, but how'd you account for
the difference ?"
"Dunno. 'Taint our business to go
nosing and poking around after scien-
tific truth. We depend on the meter.
If that says you burned 100000 feet
why you must have burned it, even if
we never made foot of gas out at the
works."
"To tell the honest truth" said But
terwick, "that meter was frozen, and
stirred it up with poker and set it
whizzing around"
"Price just the same,u said the
clerk. 1--WE charge for pokers just
like we do for gas"
"You amt actually going to have
the audacity to ask me to pay $3.50, 600
on account of that poker?'
N'If it was 100000 I'd take it with a
calmness that would surprise you.
Pay up or we'll turn off your gas.n
"Turn it off and be hangedr ex-
claimed Butterwick as he emerged
from the office tearing the bill to frag-
ments. Then he went home, and
grasping that too lavish poker, he APP
preached the meter. 1t had regis
tered another million feet since the
| bill was made out. 1t was running
upla score of hundred feet minute.
In a month Butterwick would have
owed the gas company more than the
United States Government owes its
creditors. So he beat the meter into
shapeless mass, tossed it into the
street, and turned off the gas inside
the cellar.
| He is now sitting up nights writing
an essay on "Our Grinding Monopo-
lies" by the light of kerosene lamp.