Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-11
Monthly Bills for Fuel Increasing
With Frighlful Rapidly.
WORK OF THE TIRBLESS METER.
People Who Find That Economy in Its Use
Saves No Money.
CONSUMERS FORCED BACK TO COAL

bills in time to save the percentage.
Each man and woman looked mad. They
were figuring on the possibility Of paying
rent and buying food and clothing
after settling with the natural gas
company, and the more they
figured the bluer the prospect
became. One man, as he lett the Office of a
company yesterday afternoon after making
few heated remarks which were not
noticed by the imperturbable clerk, re-
marked: "I'll buy enough clothes next
summer to last all the year. 1 can't buy
any in the winter if 1 continue to use natu-
raj gas"
Most of the persons paid their bills with
out saying much, although the way in
which they gritted their teeth was really
unpleasant AS they stepped into the
luxurious offices, filled with dangerous
warmth which suggested palm trees, dark
eyed houri and other pleasant features of
the Orient, their voices became subdued--
they knew they were in the presence of that
mighty mysterious power which they had
recognized in the privacy of their hones
when they heard their meters making
mile minute without stopping to change
engines.
Very Simple Explanation.
When a consumer stepped up to the
counter with big roll of greenbacks and
modestly inquired why his bill had doubled
in the past month, no attention was paid to his
query. When he repeated his question in
tone which showed that he was getting mad,
he received the single explanation: II guess
you burned more this month" Then the con-
sumer would explain that he had cutoff several
fires and could not have burned SO much. 1t
was no USE The clerk simply fell back upon
the meter, and the latter. with the assurance
OF one who knows his business. confirmed his
side partner.
One or two persons have been found who are
satlsDed with meter rates, but they refuse to
allow the use of their names as they feel that
in some occult manner, they are beating the
gas companies. and they are afraid that if this
was generally known an admring nation would
insist upon them assuming the rens of govern
ment. They shrink from glory. but SO long as
they can secure enough warmth without going
hungry to secure it they are satisfied.
There are a host of people who are not salts
ned, and they are quite willing to allow the use
of their names. They say the present rate for
natural gas is entirely too costly for any but the
vely wealthy, and the latter are too we'll ac-
quainted with the value OF money TO stand.it.
All kinds of things are ahoat to explain the
size of the bills rendered. That most favored
is that pure air, for which some people pay
thousands of dollars but which Is guaranteed
gratis py the Constitution, is pumped through
the pipes. The second choice, which is making
ncck-and-neck race with the fayorlte. is that
the meters are run by clockwork. and measure
nothing but the consumers length Of purse.
People Who Kick With Both Feet.
Among the prominent victims of the light
ming calculator meter Is 8. Hamilton, The Fifth
avenue music dealer and owne- of the Hamil-
l,,;lI Cal tarda
winter year ago used gas in the Hamil-
ton building for which was cha Hged 81, 200. My
contract had been raised to that figure from
$500 There was not day that we had tull
supply of gas This winter am using Goal IS 10
supply power fOs the electric light plant.
There has not been amurmur and the coal bills
have run from $50 to Sl40 per month.
AT my home. on North Highland avenue,
last year 1 had a contract at S2l5. We were
using about 13 fires. In October the meter
ground out a bill OF slS, In November the bill,
was SAL This was so large that l put gas-sav-
ing appliances in every fireplace. with the re-
suit that in December my bill was only S4 20.
In January the gas was short and only eight
natural gas fires were burned but the bill tor
SO days. was Sill 30, or almost as much as it
cost to heat and light the 100 rooms at my place
of business.
Il can't understand how these meters work.
There must be air in the pipes. OF course, 1t
requires air to complete the combustion, but
would prefer to have it mixed after the gas
has passed through the meter. Air at l5 cents
a thousand feet is too much of luxury"
Read the Meter by New Light.
Almost as rich was the story told by ]. ].
Jones, of Natchez street. Mt. Washington.
Last winter" said he, Il got gas at a moderate
figure by contract. Then the meter was putin,
and in the month of December the bill was So 60.
The advance was SO great that asked the
company to hunt for a leak, and as no leak
could be found tho gas was turned of in the
middle of January. At the end of the luonth
the man came and read the meter. A member
of my family was present and asked: How
much will the bill be this month"; Same as
last month"; replied the representative of the
gas company. But the gas has been turned off
for two weeks We'll. l didn't know that
was all the man said. as he disappeared"
1t was also stated yesterday that Charles ].
Clark. of Forbes and Croft avenues, had re-
ceived bill last month for 600, and would put
in fue! gas plant of his own. d. P. Reighard,
of the Central National Bank. was said to have
received a bill of similar proportions, and
would hereafter manufacture his own gas.
Neither of the gentlemen. however. could be
seen yesterday to confirm the report.
Among the long list of Others who have bills
and meters, with a SAD story attached. are the
following:
Monthly Bills Climbing Up.
Mrs. M. NJ. Marquis, 36 Federal street, Pitts
burg-Six CRATES and one range. September
q to October II. So 6S; October II TO November
%. SIG rs; November 20 to January z, S36 80.
Now using coal at less than half the cost of
oliver English. Ridge ayenue-Used one fire.
Was raised from $40 Is TO SO, and went back to
coal.
Robert c.. Elliott, North Highland avenue.
near Grafton-Contract for last year was Sl00.
Now using a meter at a cost of 81 30 day.
Miss Budley, Al Taylor avenue. ALLEGHENY
The bill for December, 1890. was Sc 40, for range
and three CRATES. In January the supply was
short and a wagon load of coal was burned. but
the bill presented was for S12 49,
c. E. Duffield. 8 Coleman street, Allegheny
November, 81; December. 81 %, and January
SIS 10
CRATES. Last year S6S by contract and this year
$50 by contract.
W.T.. Crosse. sis Wylie avenue-Two fires for
December, 81 90 Two days in January there
was no supply. but the bill came in for IS 55
S.B. Charter, 2l6 Grant street-Egnt fires
for last winter cost $50. This winter it was ele-
yated to s00.
Samuel " Brien, Duquesne Heights-By con-
tract last year the gas cost sS7. In October
meter was put in, and the bill for that month
was S2 81. which rose in November to IS 80 and
the month following to s. 40 Last month the
bill reached sl4 40, and the Humape Agent now
w. NJ. Ross, SO Cliff street-Contract last
year was $40. Now using meter, and the bill for
gas from December % to January 2 was S. g.
The Less Gas, the Bigger Bills.
George B. Miller, Juniata street, Allegheny,
said his bills had increased so per cent, and
that he suffered a great deal from shortage of
gas especially on very cold days.
William II. Wagner, also Of Juniata street,
Allegheny, said his gas bill was so large that he
had his meter taken out and tested, but it did
no good. He is therefore thinking seriously of
returning to coal.
Charles F. Beck & Son, Shiloh street, found
such a material increase in their bills and de-
crease in the supply that they took out the gas
and returned to coal.
George Campbell, 4l5 Smithield street.