davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
The Gas Meters.

Every foot of gas sold to consumers
must mass through a meter before it
is burned. Once through the plain
looking black metal box. 1t is sold"
and the bills are made out from the
record of its reading" Being a ma
chine, a meter may not be always alb
solutely accurate; yet, being a ma
chine, 1t can be depended on to do
the same thing in the same way every
time 1t Is as accurate and reliable as
an eightday clock. Of course, it Is
not infallible; but 1t Is as certain to
be right as fine watch Is to keep good
time. Some years since, a very care
full test was made of 2,122 meters by
DR.. Wormley, the well known chemist,
then state gas commissioner of Ohio.
They were all old meters. OF the total
number tested, 1873 per cent registered
fast, 55.7 per cent registered slow. and
1875 per cent were exactly right. The
fast meters averaged 2.8S per cent
fast, and the slow ones 2.76 slow. There
were eighteen meterS-less than 1 per
cent-that failed to register, having
holes in their diaphragms which let the
gas through without leaving any rec
ord. Leaving these out of the question,
the total number averaged forty-seven
one-hundredths of 1 per cent slow
That is an extraordinary showing 1t
is doubtful If the same number of
watches-even If costly and reliable"
ones-Would make as good a showing.
Certainly the grocer's scales, by which
the family supplies are bought and the
bills for which are cheerfully and un-
hesitatingly paid, cannot show such a
record. With such a showing, does
this machine deserve the generally ap-
piled name of "the lying gas meter? %
Can any man doubt the general ac-
curacy of his meter? If there are such,
the proof can readily be had. The
company will, on complaint, take out
your meter and have 1t tested to your
satisfaction, free of charge. It is not
pretended that there are no meters
which register against the consumers.
But, assuming its general accuracy,
the bills made out from its record will
also be correct, unless the meter reader
careleSsly or purposely reads it wrong
In either case the remedy is still Who'll
ly In the consumers hands. He can,
with no trouble or expense, learn to
read the meter as quickly and as ac-
curately as any employe or official of a.
gas company.
The internal mechanism of q meter
is somewhat difficult to describe intel
ligently. But It is sufficient to say
that the gas, coming from the street
main under pressure Of the gas hold
ers, presses against one side of dia-
phragms which revolve. and in re-
volvtng allow the gas to pass out at
the other side into the ripes leading
to the burners, and that only a certain
accurately measured portion Of the gas
is allowed by each diaphragm to pass
it, while the motion acts. by an &C.
curate system of cogs, pinions, ETC.,
upon the axis Of the hands upon the
outside dial, and that the first dial
records hundreds, the second thousands
and the third ten thousands of Gu
bic feet, While as many multiples of
these numbers as may be are recorded
upon these aials. which are in plain
view on the outside, always accessible
to anyone taking the trouble 50 look
at them.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
Gas Meter Stories

Despite the common prejudice
against what is often referred to as
the lying gas meter" gas companies
nave almost unlimited faith in 1t. The
following incidents may help some to
understand how 1t Is that meters some
times record gas passing where the
house is supposed to be closed and
unused
A large house had for more than a.
year been unoccupied and shut I'D. so
that the meter could not be seen for
reading. AT last the house was rented
The new tenants moved in. The state
of the meter was taken the next day
Compared with the last reading, it
called for a bill of nearly $40, which
was duly presented to the owner. AS
the last bill had been paid I'D to the
Day the previous tenant had moved
out 1t showed something wrong, for
investigation showed no leak. The
owner happened to be a large owner of
gas stock, so he went quietly 10 the
office and read somebody a lecture
none the less emphatically indignant
from being, so to speak, sub rosa. The
ihatter was placed in the hands of an
inspector, who gave it extended and
exceedingly puzzled attention. Suffice
IL 10 say that he at length found out
that Tor months gas had been burned
In an upper room by a party of "cran"
players, who had obtained entrance
through rear door, a panel of which
they had broken out. The bill was
paid without further protest against
meter or gas company. Suppose the
crap" players had not been discover
ed? The meter would have been chare-
ed with inaccuracy. or the compan>
with dishonesty.
Another instance was that of a dou-
bic house. one-half of which had been
piped for gas when the house was
built, while the other half was piped
some years afterwards, by simply ex-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
Don'ts.

Don't forget that the gas company
laws the service pipe to the curb line
free of charge.
Don't forget that gas at price charg-
ed in st. Paul makes cheaper light than
kerosene Oil.
Don't neglect to purchase a drop
burner with which you can bring the
light down to the point needed, If you
want to have small gas bills
Don't think that if your gas gives a
poor light that the company is letting
down in the quality of gas. Your pipes
or burners may be at fault. The gas
furnished you Is the same as that fur
nished your neighbor who has a good
light.
Don't put in too small pipes when
building your house. You cannot get a
big stream even of gas through small
hole.
Don't expect your gas bill in Deem
Der to be as small as in July; it isn't
possible, If you want to have light in
dark hours.
Don't expect children and servants
to be as economical of gas as you are;
1t isn't their nature.
when it ought to be turned out; you
will be irritated by the sight of the
next bill.
Don't forget to keep your burners
cleaned out.
Don't wait until the last pay day
at the gas Office to make your COM
plant.
opening at the bottom; the light will
be cut off by them.
Don't allow the gas to roar and blow
as 1t burns; 1t is simply wasting
making heat but not light
Don't allow a poor workman TO touch
your pipes or fixtures, and don't have
poor material used; either will produce
leaks.
Don't leave your house alone and
shut up great length of time without
notifying the company to remove the
meter or shut off the gas. Someone
else may get in and burn gas for you
to pay for.
Don't neglect to pay your bills with
reasonable prOmptness; the company
has no recourse but to turn off the gas,
to your inconvenience.
Don't be too hasty to accuse the COM
pany of cheating You may be mis-
taken. Davy Crockett was always sure
he was right before he went ahead.
Don't fail to notify the gas company
when anything Is wrong with your
light, instead of complaining to your
family or your neighbors.
Don't forget to consult the gas COM
pany when you want more light in
your store or other premises.
Don't forget that the price of gas in
st. Paul is lower than In any othslEfM
similarly situted in the United S@4-1s%
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12

After this explanation, you can I'M
derstand how it was that your bills
were. so large for the months of De-
cember and January. But you cite an
individual case where the parties have
lighted the same number of burners for
exactly the same number of hours, and
turn the key to exactly the same spot
in fact used the same quantity of gas
year after year-and the quantity for
which they are charged increases
greatly each year, and the amount OF
dollars increases each year, notwith-
standing the fact that the price has
been very much reduced, and then you
ask how can you explain that?
Well, now, If there really had ever
been such a case 1t would be a Stun
ner" There may be persons with de-
fecttye memories, who honestly believe
their own case in point. Their belief,
however, cannot make an impossible
thing a possible one. The fact is, there
never was a case of the kind in this
or any other city; honest belief, dis
honest assertion, even affidavits to the
contrary Notwithstanding. The thing
is impossible, except upon the hy-
potheSis of a continuously growing
steal. Gas company officers and en-
pleyesr are as honest as their neigh
bors who are engaged In other pursuits
of life. And it is asserted without feal
of successful contradiction that no
business pertaining to our social econ
omy Is conducted upon a fairer basis
than that of supplying Illuminating
gas to consumers. Nor is there any
expense, the exactness of which is so
easily and readily verified as that in
CURED for the gas you consume. The
grocer does not furnish you with
scales nor the dry goods merchant with
a yard measure. The sellers of goods
in the lines mentioned are human AND
therefore liable to err. If they, by ac-
cident. or otherwise, give you short
weight or short measure, 1t is doubtful
If you ever discover the loss. You will
not take the trouble to verify all your
weights and measures. But the gas
companies are required to place an is
strument in your residences, offices and
places rof business. and that instru-
ment, gas meter, must have been
properly inspected and accuracy de-
termined. With this measuring instru-
ment you can at any time ascertain the
amount of gas you have consumed. II
you keep scales and yard stick to
verify the correctness of the weights
and measures of your merchants, you
must of necessity attend to this yeriff-
cation at once a1ler receiving the
goods This is not always convenient
to do and therefore 1t is not done. Not
SO with the gas you buy; the meter
goes on recording accurately all that
Is used, and you can await a conven,
lent season for reading that rec
ord. The meter readers. like the
dry goods and grocery clerks, are falli
bic, and therefore make mistakes; but.
unlike. the yard-stick and the scales.
the meter corrects the error at It's next
reading. If you pay for a thousand
feet more gas than you used IN jan
uary. you will pay for a thousand feet
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
How to Treat the Com
pany.

The gas company has thousands OF
customers, and each customers bill is
made out from the reading of a meter
twelve times year. Besides, the Of
ficers and employees are ordinary men,
very like their neighbors with just
as much-and no more-liability to
make mistakes. In all the thousands
of calculations necessary in making
out bills, mistakes may happen. Some
body will, now and then, have his me-
ter miSread or get wrong bill. In
such case, give the much abused gas
man a chance. As a matter of fact
his prosperity SO much depends upon
the good will of his customers that he
Is even more than ordinarily anxious
not to offend. The cases in which he
is so absolutely master of the situa-
ton that he cannot be supplanted at
an hours notice by the kerosene lamp
and stove are so few and far between
as not to be worth counting.
The air is sometimes thick with
complaints, but 1t would take a long
time to find a case wherein a COM
plant, honestly and dispassionately
presented, was not patiently listened
to and promptly. fully and fairly in
yestigated. The result has been, In
ninety-nin out of a hundred cases,
the Vindication of the company. This
statement is made fearleSsly The sug-
gestions In this story ought to enable
the customer to find out for himself
and correct many things which, with.
out It's aid, he would have regarded as
a shortening of the gas company.
But, if from any cause you have occa-
sion to complain, go to headquarters,
where you Will be met with courtesy
and your complaint will be sifted to
the bottom.
Read your meter. Keep a monthly
record Of the readings. When the
company's man comes around verify
his readings. You know the price OF
gas; few seconds work with the
pencil will give your bill as accurately
as the gas clerk can make 1t out. If
your bill varies from your correct fig
urging, you will know there is a mis-
take somewhere. Be sure to make your
reading on the same day the gas COM
pany reads. If you are right and this
gas company wrong, the error will be
rectified at once. IF you find your bills
increasing too rapidly, see If you can
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12

are probably two principal rea-
sons for this. First, the gas company
Is regarded as having monopoly, and,
knowing how prone human nature is
to take advantage of the absence of
competition, the public assumes that
the gas companies are less liberal than
other manufacturing or mercantile
concerns. Again, the apparent (not
reaD mystery surrounding the bust
ness, and the lack of knowledge on the
part of the company's customers as to
whether they ever receive what they
pay for, breeds suspicion. 1t Is I'M
fortunate for gas companies that peo-
pie will not post themselves more In
matters pertaining to lighting their
premises, learn to read their meters,
learn what is the best form of burner
for the particular kind of gas that is
being used, and the pressure at which
the gas should be consumed. We have
never yet seen gas company officer
who was not glad of an opportunity
to explain these points to customer.
Any customer may at any. time have
his meter tested under his own super
vision and by apparatus SO simple in
its construction that a child may COM
prehend it. If your meter, when tested,
is found to register fast, it is easy
enough to calculate the overcharge
that has been made, and the gas COM
pany- refunds the amount. If 1t is too
slow, gas companies always pocket the
loss. Can any system of, dealing be
fairer than this, especiailyvto the con-
sumner?
Now, unless the records given and
Cf1tanaQnfc IN CT do s,ns.y
-umns can be disproved and shown to
be untruStWorthy, no reasonable man
can or ought to doubt the general cor
| RICHNESS of the gas meter Assuming,
therefore, that you will agree that the
! meter generally records correctly the
quantity of gas passing through it, you
must also agree, then that If you are
| repeatedly and persistemtlylrequired by
the gas company to pay for more gas
than you consume their fraud is per-
| ipetrated though the dishonesty of
the officers of the company and its
meter readers. The meter reader will
not purposely read a meter wrong, I'M
less he be SO instructed, and probably
| not then unless he profit by the steal.
| The officers of the company will not
| iperpetrate fraud of this kind for the
benefit of the company unless SO in
structed by the board of directors. Now,
| lives there man so stupid as to be-
| ilfeve that the board of directors of any
| gas company would do an act so fool
sfsh- as to place themselves in a posi-
| ton where they could not dismiss an
| officer or a meter reader, or re-
= fuse to accede to any demand
for increased salary, for fear of
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12

tending into it the pipes from the half
first piped. This made the gas for
both houses pass through one meter.
and the plan worked all right as long
as the original owner retained the
property and attended to the paying OF
the gas bills. But after a time the
property changed hands and was rent
ed. The tenants in both houses began
to use gas, but one found that his bills
were out of all proportion to the guam
tity of gas he consumed. He even
found that his bills would come in just
the same, whether he used any gas or
not He thought he had a clear case
of robbery against the gas company;
but an investigation was instituted
which resulted in the discovery that
his next door neighbor had all the
time been enjoying gas lighting at his
expense,
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12

This really does happen sometimes and
Is easily explained.
With many thousands of meters to be
read, the reader cannot visit a GUS
TONER'S premises many times IT ia
therefore the rule of all gas companies
and is usually made a part of the con-
tract signed by the customer on max
ing application for gas, that upon fail
ure to obtain access to a meter the
company Shall make out a bill for the
same amount as for previous month.
such bills, however, are always marked
estimated" Neither party is thus in
1ured. If no gas has been consumed.
or less quantity has been used than
Is thus charged, the next months bill
corrects the error. If more gas has
peen used, the excess will appear in the
instruments for determining the candle
power of gas sold are kept in all well
regulated gas works offices. While the
details of the construction of these in
struments may vary little the prin-
clple Is the same in all bar photome-
tiers. This mode of testing is called the
shadow test. The instrument consists
OF bar, usually 100 inches long, a gas
standard, candle standard, and a
hollow tube, in the center of which is
placed disc of paper. The tube is adj
justed so that 1t can be slid along the
bar to or from either light. In the CEN
ter or the disc space about the size
or silver dollar is oiled so as to be-
come semi transparent, the margin of
the paper remaining translucent, or, in
some instances, Opaque. The hollow
tube Is moved to or from the gaslight
until the paper seems to be all one
color, or at least until the two sides
present the same appearance. Now, If
nc4N
measure the distance from 1t to the
center of each light, square these dis
tances and divide the larger sums by
the smaller, the quotient will represent
the number of candles the gaslight is
equal to. The gas is supposed to have
been consumed at the rate of five feet
per hour and the candle to have burned
at the rate of 120 grains per hour.
With the barometer at 80 and the Their
mometer at so. Now, If any of these
conditions vary from these REQUIRE
ments, there are printed tables in use
by the aid of which the proper cor
rections are readily made. The opera
ton is quite simple and readily COM
pretended.
In addition to the apparatus above
named there Is meter to measure the
gas, governor to control the flow, a
pressure gauge and a delicate balance
In which to weigh the candle. With
these instruments an absolute test may
be made. Gas tested at different times,
even If of the same quality, will not
always give the same exact resultsI
from the fact that the candle cannot
be made so perfect as to always give
the same light. But when your bar
photometer shows your gas equal to
sixteen candles, 1t is absolutely equal
to sixteen candles such as the one
burning. For all practical purposes,
however, the candle will give uniform
| results. The standard candle mention
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
Artificial Gas as Fuel.

The fuel of the future will undoubt-
eddy be gas; in fact, artificial gas is
already being largely used for heating
and cooking. Heating stoves for arti-
fetal gas are cheap ahdfvery Efficient,
and the cost of operating them is so
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
How to Find If There Is
a Leak.

Watch the small upper dial of your
meter, which registers only two feet.
II no gas is being burned, and the
hand moves, however slowly, there is
leak somewhere. This makes it a
valuable and convenient detective.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12

And in conclusion let us give you q
little calendar of
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
General Remarks.

80 HERE is no other. legitimate
business, PERHAPS, that receives
more abuse than that of max
d ing and selling gas. There
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12

Don't forget that the gas company
laws the service pipe to the curb line
free of charge.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12

Don't forget that gas at price charg-
ed in st. Paul makes cheaper light than
kerosene Oil.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12

Don't neglect to purchase a dro
burner with which you can bring tn
light down to the point needed, If yo
want to have small gas bills.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-04-23
COST OF TARGET PRACTICE.
At the Present Rate the Naval Appro.
prlation Will Soon be Exhausted.

At the Present Rate the Naval Appro.
prlation viii Soon be Exhausted.
Washington, D. c.: Rear Admiral
O'Neil. chief of the Bureau Of Ord
nance, has estimated that IL target
practice throughout the navy is con-
Quoted all year long as it has been re-
Gently, it will cost the Government
$500, 900 annually, which is more
than 1t has been intended to pay. He
therefore win recommend to Secre-
tary Moody that the number of rounds
fired be curtailed.
The last naval appropriation bill
carried an item of S1,5OO.OOO for am
munition, which was twice as large as
the amount allowed the previous year.
In debate on the naval bill in the
House 1t was declared that half the
$1,50O,0OO would be used for target
practice.
This bill for target practice, how
ever, will be greatly in excess Of ST.
100000 year under the policy of the
Navy Department that gunners exer-
'cises must be continued with such &C
tivity that the standard of marksman-
ship shall attain and maintain posi-
ton second to no naval power in the
world
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-04-23
YOUTSY lays II ON TAYLOR
DECLARES THE GOVERNOR pI-
REcTED THE AssAs-
sINATIoN.
Points Out James Howard-Wltness
Says He Escorted Defendant to
Powers Room, Gave Him the Gun
and Pointed Out coebel.

Frankfort, Ky, Henry Youtsey,
Thursday, for the first time told on the
witness stand his story of the killing
Of the late Governor GOsbel. He
pointed out James Howard, the de-
PENDANT as the man who fred the
shot.
Youtsey said he saw Howard for
the first time a few minutes before
the shooting. Howard had a letter sent
him several days before by the wit
ness at Governors TaylOr's dictation.
Youtsey says he took Howard
into Caleb Powers once, which had
been especially arranged for the shoot
ing He showed Howard the Marlin
rife, the bullets and the window.
from which the shooting was to be
done. He says Howard asked what
he was to get for the shooting.
what do you want for it?" Youtsey
says he asked, and Howard said he
wanted a pardon for killing George
Baker.
II told him he could have that, and
more, too" said Youtsey.
about that time" continued the
witness, "Goebel came in the gate,
and pointed him out to Howard, and
then ran from the room. AS disap-
peared from the steps to the basement
l heard the crack of Towards rife. "
After shooting he said he passed
through the Statehouse basement, and
a few minutes later came back into the
executive building from the east en-
trance.
Il stayed In the office Of Assistant
Secretary of State Matthews" said
he. "for a few moments and saw Mat
thews break open Caleb Powers once
and find the guns that had been left
there"
Youtsey said that at the time of the
shooting he was private secretary to
Auditor Sweeny, but that while his
political status was not definitely
fixed, it was understood he was to
have a good place under Taylor.
Governor Taylor" said Youtsey,
directed everything we did. We re-
garded him as, our leader, and he was
morally responsible for all we did. We
knew we had the Governor and the
Pardoning Board behind us, and we
were not afraid of punishment for kill.
ing Goebel."
During Youtsey's testimony How
ard sat with his eyes riveted on the
witness. His wife sat behind him.
Howard did not change his express,
inn
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-04-23
pr. carson,s SUE settIed.

Nashville, ILL.,: The suit and count
er-suit of DR.. N. B. Carson, a surgeon,
Of st. Louis, against County Judge
Louis Bernreuter, administrator of the
These estate, which has been aired be-
fore two last sessions of the Wash.
ington County Circuit Court, has been
settled, and the litigation is at an end.
The attorney for the heirs Wednesday
morning in court agreed to pay the
fee Of DR.. Carson, and also the costs
Of the case, and a decree was accord
ingly entered on the records of Judge
Early. The suit and countersuit is the
outcome Of an operation performed
several years ago upon the late Mrs.
Minnie These by DR.. Carson at the
Mullanphy hospital in St. Louis, Mrs.
These dying short time afterward.