The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-03

1>1o'if u J. itilJ0SSlDte 10 DCe
"hn ana satisfy all who think they hav,
good cause to complain, I viii here dis
euss the subject. witllthc hone Tint thronp,
fhts medium may BE able to reach and sot
hearing.
In all cases where bill is presented 10,
rs the consumer is only charged for IN,
Ga which has really been used on his prem
| 'scs in no instance for more To ibi:
STATE ment the only single exception which
can o ccnr Is that in which the state OF thu
meier is wIongiuly taken Ey the inspector
by win ch the consumer iS charged witt
more gas than has passed through his ne.
ter. That this IS possible is all that can bf
said. \ bunder OF this sort may be made
rs one may mistake tIle hour designated b,
the hands Of watch; but such
AN ERROR Dol's NOT eCcEE ONCE IN A THOU.
SAND TIMES
And as mistake in a figure involves an
error OF either Il Thousand or ten thousand
feet. II the former it is rrot likely TO attract at.
tention except from very small consumer,
and II tue latter its enoruaity is apr to lead
to detection. But even admitting that the
error is not discovered, it rsiaf eertsIafy cor
rect itself when the state OF the meter is
taken the next time.
feel no hesitation in asserting that al
though it is no1 only possible but OF fire..
Lquent occurrence for consumer to .et
more gas than he pays for. yet in no in
stance Is lie charged for more than passes
through his meter.
BAD GAS AND LARGE BILHg.
There is another class o! compIaiuaDts who
have become impressed with the idea that
defect III the quality OF the gas occasions
their large bills. and on this point am free
to confess that il is not in the power OF any
manager OF 9as-works easily TO satisfy
such an one.
That all illuminating gases are OF less
value in winter than in summer, il made OF
the same quality OF materials and by the
same mode OF operation, is admitted bs all
who know anything OF the subject. The
cause OF this is thus stated by Professor
Elicit. q chemist OF high standing. While
being examined before the special commit
tee before mentioned, in answer to this
question, " Have changes in atmos pheric
temperature any influence on the values OF
gas:" he replied: Yes; the hydro-car-
bon Vapors beng, as think, the true source
OF Illuminating value, are OF course con-
dcnSbic. A gas containing or per cent
OF these YaporS, made in COLI weather, will
tEpOStL q SouSlu IluiIlOll vi lIcSC SU-
ing into cold gasometer and in passing
through cold nIiilrs, and the consumer will
receive an interior gas to that lic would re-
ccire il the temperature were higher"
And again: "tn very cold weather the
gas as it reaches The consumer will
be Il worse gas very much worse gas
than hen it started" \ very striking evil
dcncc nj the truth OF these statements was
exhibited during tic months Of December
and january last by our strcet-lamps, in all
Of which the flame and light were scnsibly
decreased, and with many Tie condensation
OF the hydro-carbon Vapors accumulated in
the small pipe supplying the lamps, and,
fl lecZing. stopped the flow Of the gas entirely.
/ hope subsequently, during the winter
months, to make up for the effects OF cold
weather by Il liberal use OF the rich camel
Goals, and thus atone for the depreciation
the gas would otherwise exhibit.
OTHER PROMINENT REASONS FOR INCREASED
GAS BILLS
may be stated. The longer a burner is in
use the more gas it will consume, because
the burner itself is consumed. the oriiice
"nnstonilu growing larger. 1~r'r nur"e~
should, therefore, be changed, ii the party
wishes to burn no more gas than he did ut
the time OF commencing; and | find flom
twenty-SiX years. experience that the longer
people burn gas the more OF it they will
burn. 1t may also be added that with the
facility by which gas can be used tends
greatly to Its waste. Other artlil-
cial lights require some preparation and
attention to keep them burning, and when
lit there is limit to their duration. and un-
rcpleniShed, they soon 60 out. With gas,
however, there Is no necessity for prcpara-
ton; it is always ready, and is lit in IN in
stant; the flow is uncca>in". and ii left
uncurcd for will continue TO burn ut the
same cost to the consumer rs ii all the adj
vantaScS were enjoyed, until it l. shut OH.
That large amounts Of gas arc consumed
much OF it needlessly) in dark, cloudy
days, and while servants are engaged III
household duties during the dark mornings
Of winter, is plainly shown at the holders
the one supplying the city at the time OF
observation frequently descending between
The period oil dwight and sunrise aS rap
idly as it does between the hours OF 10 and
IL 2. 81. How much OF this is wasted, and
goes to the increase Of gas bills, 10 the sur
prise OF the consumer when presented.
could only be estimated by Knowing the
habits of servants in the house OF those who
probably pay the least attention 10 their
domestic affairs.