New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-27
REMEDY FOR Gas NEEDED
So Says State Inspector-BMs Noso
at albany to GiUe did.

Not because of fast meters" have the gas bills
increased. says Jastrow Alexander, State inspector
of gas meters, but because the companies furnish
inferior gas, which they force through the pipes at
high pressure. Further, he declares that there Is
official In the State who has jurisdiction to stop
this. He himself has authority whatever in re-
lation TO the quality OF the gas furnished.
The Commissioner Of Water Supply. Gas and
Electricity has inspector who makes monthly
reports on the Quality of gas. but he has no real
power to compel compliance with the law. Accord
Ing to the city charter If in three inspections the
gas falls below the required quality the Commits
sioner can infct fine OF $lOO. The company. by
letting the quality of gas deterorae in the time be-
tween two inspections. might make thousands OF
dollars and yet have the gas up the standard at
the third inspection 1t might even risk that. and
pay the fine, having already made much money on
the inferior gas.
According TO Mr.. Alexander the condition OF the
gas here in this city is alarming. He has com
plants by the hundred each day. he says. which in
most cases he has found we'll grounded. Said he
yesterday:
come to me- declaring their gas bills have grown
out Of all proportion; They think there must aust De
find any trouble there, but there is the complaint
about the poor light and the trouble In getting
enough gas to burn well in four or five burners
Then know what the matter is. II is so all over
the poor people couldn't pay the big gas bills
are we gong 10 o9 ABOUT f compel the com
panies TO furnish gas up TO the STANDARD; IneTe
which aim to better these conditions One is TO
reduce the price TO 70 cents. That is wrong on
principle. The people aren't Directing 10 the price
when they get What they pay for but It is having
service which angers them The other, introduced
by Assernblyrnan Miller provides for commission
of illuminating gas. They, at a salary OF $40 a
Gay. should investigate the quality of the gas FUR
nlshed by the various companies. It's manufacture
and distribution, and have the power TO enter the
companies plants for inspection, and 70 examine
their books and papers. This bill while ii would
undoubtedly be good thing, stiH would not 90
any more than II an Inspector were appointed with
the power 10 make tests where and when he chose,
and to nfict suitable punishment il the companies
This is not a trivial thing. i say emphatlcally
there is not official I'm the state who can com
site quality all the time. This condition touches
every house and every family in the city.
The law requires mat each burner consuIhlhs
five cubic feet Of gas hour should give twenty
candle power OF light Tests for the city are made
by Or. Edward q. Love, with q machine or MS
own. These tests are never made les IMAM a. mlle
the ordinary service pipes, 50 the CONDITIONS re-
semble greatly those i'm ordinary house These
up 10 the standard Seldom DO the teSts snow ms
however the three times in succession necessary
to incur even the little $luO fine.
Commissioner Oakley q: tho Department OF
Water Supply Gas and Electricity declared yester-
dav that he would fully investigate these conditions
and do all in his power to remedy them lie had no
great power he admitted. Whenever 4 complaint
Of the quality OF sdS comes 10 nlin Iie Co; ,s
supplying the gas IL told that II must do better
''If nothing further is heard from the complaint,
said the Commissioner, we have 10 c0nsIcsr that
the company has Tcmeded us taui[' ms ne con-
sdered rather IN unsatisfactory mcthod or DONG
business but said he d!d not see how II could be
remedied under the existing regulations As 70
Asscmblymau lillcT's bill. no thought II Would De
a merttorious measure. which certainly could pro-
duce nothing but good.