The times., 1899-07-28
THE REBATE TOO SMALL
The Gas Inspector Urges the Com
panies to Be Liberal.
Most of the Imperfect Meters Regis
tered I'm Favor of the Consumer
md Against the Company-Few
Worked Fast During the Past Year
-Request for Another Assistant.

In his annual report for the fiscal year
ended June 30 last S. Calvert Ford. Dis
trict Inspector of Gas and Meters. makes
special reference to the complaints which
have been largely made by local gas con-
sumers regarding the small reductions
which the Washington and Georgetown
Gas Light companies allow in the matter
of meters which are found and reported
to be registering too fast. He recommends
that some arrangement be made with the
Illuminating companies whereby custom
ers will receive more liberal allowances
Inspector Ford informs the Commission
ers that it is the custom Of local gas COM
panies to allow reduction on current
bills only and according to the percentage
of error found by the Inspector. He as
serts that in Baltimore and New York a
much more liberal allowance is made by
the gas companies and asserts that he has
been informed by the general superin-
tendent of lamps and inspector Of meters
In Baltimore that when meters are re-
moved in that city on complaints made by
consumers and found to register too fast
the consumer has the right to demand
that the gas company make 4 reduction
from the bills of the preceding four months
the percentage that his meter is register
ing against him. He was also informed
by the secretary OF the Consolidated Gas
Company, of New York. that where meters
register too fast it has been the custom
OF his company TO allow the consumer a
rebate for the full amount indicated by
the test certificate of the meter Inspector
for one-half of the time that the meter
was in use, provided the consumers ac-
count covered the period in question.
In view of the vast difference brought
out through these comparisons Inspector
Ford recommends that the Washington
and Georgetown Gas Light companies be
requested to make more liberal allow
ance than is at present made for fast-reg-
istering meters This recommendation is
OF vital interest to gas consumers and is
one of the features of the entire report.
Some interesting statements are made in
the report relative to the quality of gas
furnished in Washington and Georgetown.
The average value Of five cubic feet of
Washington gas consumed per hour was
equal to 1886 candles, while the average
of the gas manufactured by the George
town company is recorded as 27.6S. In
spector Ford says this showing is excel
lent, and cannot be surpassed by any gas
company in the country, with the single
exception OF two or three New York gas
companies, which manufacture OIL gas
Eight hundred and ninety-four photometriS
inspections were made in Washington and
295 in Georgetown during the year. The
local inspection is asserted TO be the most
thorough in the country. Last year. by
way OF comparison, it is stated that only
fifty-two inspections were made in the en-
tire city of Boston. or only one each week.
while inspections are made here daily at
four different laboratories.
During the year the office proved and in
spected 3,9sS gas meters. Those found 10
register too fast numbered 1S9, with an av-
erage error of 4.T2 per cent and 524 regis
tered too slow. with an average error o.
lbs per cent. The number of meters re-
moved from service on complaint was l 19S
Four hundred and twenty-eight were CON-
planned of by consumers, VINO believed
that they registered incorrectly. One hun
dred and sixty-five meters registered fast
with an average error of 4.S0 per cent;
twenty-eight registered slow, with an av-
erage error of 4.67 per cent. and 2S1 regis
tered within the limits allowed. TIE fees
received for inspection OF meters and
turned over to the collector of taxes
amounted to 81, 646.
The mean average Illuminating power
determined at laboratories equalei 1886
standard candles, the maximum average
eeualed 1916 standard candles, and the
purity known as sulphureted hydrogen was
found on fifty-one occasions. This is de-
crease over 1898. but Inspector Ford main
tains that the impurity should be entirely
eliminated from gas. The average illuni-
hating power OF gas furnished by the
Georgetown Gas Light Company was 2-1O0
of one candle power less than that of the
preceding year.
The report recommends. in conclusion,
that the salary OF the assistant inspector
be increased from 81, 600 to 81 200 per an
mum; that the hours during which the
Office of inspector is kept open. namely.
from 8 a. m. until p. m, be reduced to
conform with the hours in force in other
District departments; that another assist
ant inspector be appointed with compensa-
tion Of s720 per annum. and that the sal
airy of messenger be increased from $3.50
to $500 per annum.
Appended to the report is the following
estimate OF appropriations required for the
support of the Office during the fiscal year
ending of June 80. 1901; Salary of the in
spector, $1,000; salary of the assistant in
spector. $1,000: estimated increase in sal
airy of latter. $500; salary of the messenger.
$3.50; estimated increase in salary of mes
senger, s120; estimate of salary for addi-
tional assistant. s72O. making total es-
innate of $3.50.