The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-22
NO MAN HIS FRIEND.
Trials CT the Gas Company Employe
Who Eeads the Meter.

IrlhIS CT IQ0 jas company EnplOY6
Who Reads the Meter.
From the Chicago Herald
Statement takers of gas companies are
the mysterious and wholly unpopular men
who examine your meters once a month
and return TO their offices some questionable
computations as to the consumption of gas
in your house or store since their last visit
Each of these statement takers is compel ed
to give a $500 bond to insure the company
against loss from collusion of consumer and
examiner. 1t is seldom that this bond Is
forfeited, for although the statement taker
has it within his power to arrange the
indices of meter 30 as to give the consumer
a pecuniary advantage over the company,
he rarely attempts to abuse the confidence
placed in MIN by his employers. Even If he
were disposed to make false returns for a
consideration from the consumer the dis
covery of his dishonest methods would be
but question of a short time.
Everybody knows a consumer has little
love for gas company, and in their rounds
from day TO day statement takers find in
teresting evidences of his hostility.
1t crops in regeneration. evasion and in
Renuity of high order. The scheme of
North Side man is q striking illustration
He wanted gas in bis house, but he didn't
want to pay for it. One day he ordel Ell
the gas company to remove its meter from
his cellar and announced in the neighbor-
hood that he was going make his own gas.
For days and days be labored industriously
In his back yard and at the end of the month
neighbors saw that he had built what ap-
peared to be o small gesometer with the
other necessary appliances for the manu-
facture Of the fluid. Gas burned in every
room of this mans house when there was
the slightest occasion for artificial light,
and hak VYntnaIg arnd
for the table by the same agency. Neigh
bors wondered at the ingenuity of this enter
prising man. Some OF them were envious.
At last, no Eever the suspicious of the gas
company were aroused and inspectors were
sent to the place to make an investigation.
Their surprise was great when they found
that the gas plant in the back yard was
merely a clever ruse to beat the company,
The mau had dug a trench to the big main
in the street, aud with a service pipe which
he had bought downtown began the success
full transfer of the company's gas to the
holder or tank in his yard. From here the
gas ran in pipes to the house. and for
months and months this enterprislng citizen
enjoyed the result of his ingenuity without
being bothered by meters OF statement
takeis.
S ill another unsuccessful attempt to beat
a gas company was made by a woman on
the South Side who kept her meter in
closet. Month after month the state
ment taker came round to record the figures
on the dials, but was each time thwarted
bv the woman on one pretext or another.
Once when hard pressed by her unwe!come
visitor she turned him away by declaring
that the closet was filled with valuable
dresses ard Jewels, and that after 10 ktIg
the door she had been SO unfortunate as to
lose the kew. Finally the gas company
sent q more determined statement taker.
TIE woman, undismayed, sought TO drive
him away, but, failing in this, reluctantly
cOnsen ted to open the closed door and
permit an examination of the meter No
sooner uad the Igures on the dials been re-
corded than the woman thrust o blaziug
match among the light, fimsy dresses hang
log from the mills. In en instant the closet
was wrapped III flames, the statement taker
narrowly escaping a scorchlng himself.
Fire engines were called, the woman be-
came nystercal aud then painfully lndig-
nant and the examiner fled from the house
IN a state of terror The next day the Of
6cers of the gas company received visitor.
Il was q woman. She charged the statement
,nker ui n the obstruction OF her wardrobe,
ard SO conviacingly did she make it appear
ina, ne had careessly flung lighted match
unou the floor after examining the dials,
that the company was not only glad co
cancel O four months gas blll, but pay $40
IA cash besides.
An old statement tsker can spin these
arms by the hour, but the two told above
are aole-boiied sDec!nens OF the schemes OIL
.erelict consume s % shrink the diVldends
I the gas companies.