The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-22
GAS METERS AND THEIR WAYS.
In Cases of Fire They DO Not Explode,
According tn Popular Notion.

New York Times.
The proneness of the average newspaper
reporter to attribute cellar CONGREGATIONS
20 the explosion Of gas meters represents
what appears TO be an ineradicable race
trait. No amount of contradiction. and no
accumulation of proof that such an acct
dent is an impossibility, seems 10 reach the
newsgatherers. who go on reporting the
explosion OF gas meters-doubtles because
the fremen have a tradition that meters
are explosive. and give this explanation of
account for.
For the reinsurance Of nervous people. Z
gives US pleasure 10 say that no gas meter
ever exploded since the world began, and
until they are made on very different plans
and contain gas of very different compost
ton from that now used for Illuminating
purposes. such an accident is no more like
" 10 happen to them than to milk bottles
or salt bags. The domestic gas meter has
a more or less well-deserved reputation for
habttual mendacity, though as likely TO lie
against the gas company as for it; but IL
has never done anything to warrant the
suspicion that IL Is liable to go of with a
bang 1t Is a tin box of a little less than
enc cubic foot capacity, put together with
sOldered seams and j~apanned. Into and
through il passes the gas, which enters
through the service pipe connecting tire
rna'n with the Enthusiastically of Aalf-inci
diameter. II has very little capacity FOR
gas storage. and is not strong enough 10
tI.an. say. half a pound per square incn.
More than this would bulge its sizes. In
point O. fact. the pressure of gas an meters
IL rarely more than enough to balance =
cOluuen Of water two OF three inches high.
If a gas meter Is exposed 10 great heat
from external fire nothing very serious
happens. The sOldered seams will prob
ably melt. allowing the gas 10 escape. This
gas Is not explosive, however. IL becomes
80 only when mixed with air in certain
definite proportions. Should this admix-
ture exist in a meter. which is almost i'm
possible. its shell is not strong enough to
offer any great resistance. and should an
explosion occur by reason OF fire reaching
this admiSture OF gas and air. the meter
would be- wrecked. but il Is doubtful III any
other damage would result. None have
been wrecked from this cause. If the seams
% the meter are opened by melting OF the
solder or By fracture from accident, the
gas within would escape. and. IL IL had
the chance, burn. Outside the meter il
might have opportunity 10 form the ex-
age.
What actually happens in the case OF fires
attributed TO the explosion OF gas meters Is
usually this. Gas which has leaked from
defective pipes or worked into the cellar
from broken or defective street mains. ac-
cumulates in pockets formed by rafters and
elsewhere. and remains there until IL comes
n contact with an accidental fire OF some
sort y fire starts in the cellar, and the
temperature gradually rises until the
smolcering rubbish bursts into flames.
This reaches the mixture OF gas and air
along the ceiling and an explosion follows.
The meter. naturally enough. Is thrown
Gown and probably torn from It's con-
r~ections. and the conclusion IS reached
that. instead OF being the victim of the
or all the trouble and has INDUCED its