The New York herald., 1876-03-11
THE GAS EXTORTION.
EXPOSURE OF WORKINGS, GAINS AND DIyI-
bends OF THE COMPANIES.


bring light startling facts relative TO their
profits which, in amount 90 far beyond what any one
suspected 1t Will be seen that dividends of 100 per
have been realized and paid stockholders and
that these dividends increased inferior illu
mnating material furnished and the meters made TO
tell still further strange stories. There is no contro
vertng these statements for they arc derived nom the
parties directly interested and enriched. Some add
tional information given to-day TO the operations
OF the gas companies and the only consolation to be
derived, the proprietor Of one OF the largest tea
stores the city remarked, is that kerosene VIII go
up and swndhng gas bills Will 60 down" The compa-
MES do not deny that the article they furnish is
not good they would wsh and that measures are
in progress improve its quality. The re6nction OF
price is a matter Tor future consideration.
TIE OPINION EXPERT
A reporter OF the HERALD sought out an engineer,
formerly employed In the works of one OF the city
companies, and from him obtained the following state
ment concerning ers:-''Tho theory OF the opera
ton Of meters" ho said, ''was all right They ought
to render an accurate account OF the gas passing
through them, provided they not imperfect in con-
s;ructon and kept in good working order There are
two kinds in use but the principal part OF each con-
ssts Of hollow drum, with chambers so arranged
that the gas enters and is discharged, IT is meas
by feet feet hundreds of feet thousands
OF so on indicated by the dial plate whero
the figures arranged II much to expect that
the ordinary consumer readily comprehend this
complicated machine which the time, re-
peat If IN proper condition tells lies Con-
sumers are, there is question. at the
mercy of agents. many OF whom know
little nothing OF the contrvance, but go good deal
by guess work that is the principle bill was
much in September and therefore should be three or
four times more in January. The meters, as have
said, OF two kinds the wet and the dry The wet
acts by valve governed by ball float when the
water kept up in the meter tho valve kept raised
the Auid passes through into a chamber wherein
wheel or screw is turned by It's Passage the turning OF
which acts upon the works Of the meter clock, which
should register exactly the amount OF gas consumed or
leaking out OF the pipes beyond the meter The dry
meter differs IRON the wet entirely No water Is used
and valves employed instead OF wheels A pair OF
bellows furnishes illustration Take the bellows
valve and attach clock work that
an account can be had Of the number
of times IL and falls and then be dscerned
entire principle OF the dry meter Another illustration
would be that 1t Is on the principle OF the cylinder of
the steam engine, the gas working on alternate valves
and moving piston in the way 1t is not 10 be
expected, as have remarked, that citizens, either
Their dwellings, or places OF business can test the
accuracy OF the figures taken by gas company agents
they 90 their rounds and they (ihe consuucrs)
neither invited nor expected to be present when these
parties make their appearance for the purposes of
spccton. | am free 10 concede that there ample
grounds for complaint on the part of consumers for
overcharges-paying for far greater amount of gas
THE STAIR MnrER INSPECTOR BUSINESS
IL is contcnded on the side OF the gas manufacturers
that consumers must concede that they honest
as those who direct the affairs OF other corporations
and that the state provides that all have
DO examined, tested and stamped by an agent nomi-
mated by The Governor and confirmed by the Senate
before placed in USE that tho reports of their agents
as to the quantity Of gas indicated by the dial should
be accepted as correct Inc chief objection TO this
position is that the agent who tests ii he all
Is not paid officer of the State. He is dependent
upon and paid by the gas companies, If they think
n
manner, and is, therefore, their servant in the
important particular, and not the servant Of the
public The act of April 4, 1859. provides for the
appointment Of an inspector Of gas who to mold office
Tor five years. and whose duty 1t shall be- when re-
quired, TO inspect, examine prove and the
accuracy of any and all gas used to
be used for measuring asceraining the quality of IL
Illuminating gas furnished by any company the State
and when found correct 10 SEAL stamp mark all such
with some suitable device, such device be re
corded in the office OF the Secretary of State The act
further distinctly provides that before the Inspector OF
Meters receives any money for his services the gas
companies pay into the state Treasury sufficient
sum 10 meet the demand. He Is therefore, stated
employee OF the corporations than the people
Further comment at this moment is unnecessary.
PRIZE STOCK INVESTMENTS.
The popular discomfort in reference to the oppres-
sions practsed by the companies in this is as
every one knows nothing new. In response TO the
general idea of imposition practised at the time the
lower branch OF the Legislature during the of
1869, appointed special committee OF seven to make
inquiries and repor:Frst. AS to whether these corpo-
rations had made any returns to their profits or
dividends Second, is the gas supplied of such a de-
D.
plyS Third, can the people, for more reasonable
price than charged obtain a better quality than fur
nishedg The committee made thorough investiga-
tion and laid before the Assembly MS the result of
their work, the iollowing:-They reported that the
companies declared annually large dividends and are
manufacturing very poor quality OF gas when com
pared with that used in other cities. The sys
TEN of lighting the city should be under the control Of
a practical chemist whose duty 1t should be 10
determine the quality of gas, and case
the companies should not comply with the
IN Ia Sn 10 pnxva Of tha nft
companies has been found to be below thirteen candles
The evidence Of experts proves that, be of good
quality aud an economical light Tor consumers, it
should be at least sixteen candles. Notwithstanding
the inferior quality OF gas the prices have increased
from fifteen TO twenty per cent during the past
three years. although the price OF coal is now lower
than during the The companies have declared
annually increasing dividends diteen TO one hun
dred per cent IN cash. and also large scrip and stock
dividends Your committee find that the companies
supply gas for the street lamps for the city Of New
York and charge very exorotant prices TO the city per
lamp few years ago when the price Of coal was not
much less than at present the lamps were lighted at
SIS per lamp, and the price now charged S53 per
lamp including lighting" Instead OF any change for
the better having taken place since 1869 all reports
agree that matters have grown worse and that as an
effective remedy the OF kerosene has now TO bc
generally adopted People cannot afford gas companies
loo per cent investments In gas stock and in add-
tion paying exorbitant prices be cheated in the
bargain.
DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN HIGH RATES.
To THE EDITOR HERALD
Permit tU repeat a remark made by an officer OF
tho Harlem Gas Company. When asked If they pro
posed reduce their rates, he repei with show of
anger: NO; not II every gas company in New York
should lower their rates will not" You say Justly
that 'still greater concessions must be made and
will you not in the OF the great public con-
tinue TO agtate this question until these naughty
panics learn that oppressive rates Will continue TO
then many CONSuMEkS2
POOR GAS AND HIGH PRICES.
To THE EDITOR oP THE HERALD
see the gas in your city bids fair to do some
good the people. We have been suffering here for
years from being obliged to poor gas and pay the
highest price. Houses that vary in the con-
sumption OF gas from year the other have
discovered occasionally great discrepancy the bills
presented them and this last quarter especially they
lrv nhyod O lnInsl