The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-08
CLUMSY TRICK OF
THE GAS COMPANY
Large Burners Taken Out and Replaced
by Smaller Ones.
IT WAS DONE UNSOLICITED
In Several Residences by the COmpany'C
Representative.
SCHEME TO DECEIVE THE PEOPLE
The Company Is Adding Insult to injury by
Furnishing Inferior Gas and Charging
Sl.65-Candle Power Low
Pressure Is Bad.
SCHEME TO DECEIVE THE PEOPLE

Yesterday man claiming to be a rep
resentatlve of the gas company wished
several residences In the city.
Where his advances were not met
kindly he demanded entrance and the
privilege of Inspecting the gas burners.
ut was noticed that he did some tim
kering with cdhe gas jets. What was
done could no1 be seen and he declined
to explain. But there was "a difference
when night came and the jets were
lighted.
1t was discovered that the old burn
ers had bslen taken off and replaced with
smaller ones. The burners were not
large enough 10 furnish light Ito read
by and double the number of jets had
to be usstd in every house that was hon
ored with a call from the representa-
tive of the Birmingham gas monopoly.
The represen. alive could not make all
of his calls yesterday and he Will proba-
bly, be abroad today.
AT one residence visited yesterday the
lady of the houses was rather chary in
letting him enber
1--WE did not send for you," she said.
The man persisted and said he mus
enter. He went all through the house,
but his visit was forgotten until dark,
when the gas jets were lighted.
In speaking of nhe occurrence after
wards, the lady said it was rather Pc
culiah THAT the gas company should
send representative unsolicited, as it
was so hard to get one when he was
really needed.
WHAT WAS HIS PURPOSE?
There are two supposi.tons dn regard
to the object of the gas company in
making tha new move.
1t may be that by substituting small
burners for large ones, thereby forcing
consumers 30 use twice as many jets,
small quar;ity of additional gas would
be burned.
The most generally accepted theory
is that the gas company's motive in the
change of affairs was to try and allay
ITO some extent the wave of Indignation
against it's outrageous charges and UNI
just practices.
AS one gentleman said, if consumer
objected to his bill aft:r this change had
been made, he would be informed that
he was using just twice as many burners.
The company may use this in an attempt
at rebuttal 10 the objections of the con-
Sumers.
1t may possibly be that the gas COM
pany is trying to wcGk the sympathy
dodge. 1t may be making a show as
though pretending to take some interest
in the quality of the lights and thereby
win the sympathy of few consumers.
If one of the 'fchiefs" could have been
present when a few of the changed Jets
were lighted last night all hopes of this
scheme would have vanished.
In amy event, it is trick of some kind.
T'hs gas company has no right to send
a man, unsolicited, 70 inspect anything
but the meters. The gas company does
not put in the piping and burners and
consequently has no right to make such
changes.
1t is a scheme to Deceive the people.
The gas company is desperate. The
''chiefs" and rheir henchmen have ach-
Ing heads. The cause-to dsvise some
means to stop the right arm of justice
with the people behind it.
The sending of an impolite represent
atiNa to invade the homes of Birming-
ham to make changes which the COM
pany has no right to command him to
make will mot arouse sympathy.
1t is not the Ca ult of the representative.
He merely obeys orders.
The people will hold the gas company
responsible.
INFERIOR GAS SUPPLY.
The gas company boldly acknowledged
that 1T had violated it's contract with the
city.
1t would not be surprising If it would
come out and acknowledge that it has
been furnishing the citizens a Birming-
ham with a very infsuior quality of gas.
This fact has BEEN proven by many of
the gas company's consumers through
the columns of The Age-Herald. Some
have gone SO far as Ito pronounce the gas
''rotten." With one or two exceptions all
have complained of the quality of the
gas and without a single exception all
have rebellsd against the outrageous
price of $1.65 per thousand feet.
To the gas investigation committee
1t has BEEN thoroughly demonstrated that
H.