Evening star., 1902-08-21
POWER OF ILLUMINANT
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF
GAS AND METERS.
Renewal of Recommendation Regard
ing Rebates-Investigati Of
Complaints on File.

The annual report of S. Calvert Ford
United States inspector of gas and meters,
has been submitted to the District Com
mssioners. In 1t he says
The average Illuminating power of the
gas determined at the central laboratory,
corner 10th and d streets northwest, was
found to equal 26.O5 standard candles. The
maximum Illuminating power 1856
standard candles. The minimum illuminat-
ing power was 2}.42 standard candles.
The average illuminating power of the
gas determined at the southeast labora-
tory, corner 9TH and d streets southeast
was found to equal 1886 standard candles.
The maximum illuminating power was
31O2 standard candles. The minimum illum-
mating power was 2I.36 standard candles
The average illuminating power of the
gas determined at the northwest labora-
tory, 1875 14th street northwest was found
TO equal 2i25 standard candles. The max
imum illuminating power was 29.44 stand
ard candles The minimum illuminating
power was 24.03 standard candles.
"On only one occasion during the year
was ammonia in excess of the amount
allowed by law, and at no time during the
year was sulphur found in excess Ct the
maximum amount allowed by law.
The Washington Gaslight Company was
in default in candle power on twenty &C.
casiOns during the year. as follows: Cen
tral laboratory, seven: southeast labora-
tory, seven; northwest laboratory, six; by
average of all three Laboratories there was
but one default.
Illuminating Power.
The averag ge Illuminating power of the
gas supplied by the Georgetown Gaslght
Company during the year ending June %,
1902, was twenty-eight Cne-hundredths of
candle less than during the year 1901.
THE average Illuminating power of the
gas determined at the laboratory, 1893 :S2d
street. was found to equal y7.61 standard
candles. The highest Illuminating power
,yl,-
The lowest illuminating power during the
year was 21.1i standard candles.
ION nine occasions during the year this
company was in default in candle power
'Sulphureted hydrogen was present on
eleven occasions during the year, and on
eleven occasions ammonia was found in
excess Of the amount allowed by law.
AT no time during the year was sulphur
in excess of the amount allowed by law
Eight hundred and seventy-nine photo
metric Inspections were made of the gas
supplied by the Washington Gasight Com
pany, and 2.O inspections of the gas sup
piled by the Georgetown Gaslight COmpany
during the year.
During the year this office inspected and
proved 1896 gas meters. With the eXcep-
tion of four meters inspected for the Alex
andria gas works. the aforementioned me-
ters were inspected for the Washington and
Georgetown gasight companies, and for
consumers of gas in Washington and
Georgetown
"O HuiluISu anu nl0eIy-SlX OF the SAID
meters registered fast, average error, 4.47
per cent; 522 registered slow, average error,
sSo per cent; 3,9G} registered within the
limits allowed by law and 224 did not reg
lister the gas flowing through them.
One thousand three hundred and thirty
nine of the aforementioned meters were
removed from service on complaints of the
Washington and Georgetown gaslight COM
panies and consumers of gas in Washington
and Georgetown.
Complaints Filed
Six hundred and twelve meters were
complained of by consumers of gas thev
believing the meters to register incorrectly
Two hundred and fifty-four registered fast
average error 4.oS per cent; 5S registered
SLOW, average error, 3.4S per cent and 300
registered within the limits allowed by
law
Seven hundred and twenty-stx were COM
planned of by the Washington Gas Light
Company; 20 registered fast average error
30 per cent; 4G2 registered slow, ayera ge
error, 2itO per cent; 20 registered within
the limits allowed by law and 22i did not
register the gas flowing through them.
"One meter was complained of by the
Georgetown Gas Light Company. Said
meter registered 3 per cent fast.
All of the meters complained of by the
Washington Gas Light Company were re-
moved from service and tested in the COM
pany's shop before being brought to this
office for inspection.
nine dollars and fifty cents was received by
this office for the inspection of gas meters
which amount was paid to the collector for
the District.
The recommendation made in the annual
reports of this office for a number of years
past, that the gas companies in the District
Of Columbia be required to make a more
suitable rebate than they allow al present
in cases where meters complained of by
gas consumers are found by the inspector
to register in excess Of the requirements of
law. is again renewed.
The same course should be followed
where meters are found to register fast as
| is pursued by these companies where me-
| tiers are found to register slow or fail to
register at all; a similar course should
be required TO that adopted by the New
York and Baltimore gas companies.
Mr.. Ford recommends increases in the
salaries of his assistants and his messenger,
and also requests a clerk.