Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-18
HERALD s VICTORY
PUB[IC'S TRIUMPH
GAS INSPECTION BECOMES A
REALITY
HISTORY or LONG FIGHT
ls Merely Another step In Direction Of
Regulation Of Corporations
Dealing in Public
Utilities

The appointment Of w. r. Jordon to
be gas and gas meter inspector marks
another step toward the regulation Of
corporations dealing with public utili-
ties, the campaign for Which was
started nearly year ago by The
Herald.
AT the instigation of The Herald, af-
ter several months of effort, ordinances
were drawn allowing the city council
the power to regulate the price, quality
and candle power OF gas. electricity
and telephone service which should be
furnished to the citizens Of Los An
geles. Nn~
The ordinance was buried by the old
council, but The Herald never let up in
its fight and from time to time all of
the civic organizations in the city Joined
the crusade as recruits. After waging
a hard and persistent fight for about
seven months, the ordinance passed the
council but was delayed and vetoed
by the mayor. When it again reached
the council, the members of that body
had been led to sympathize with the
measure and it was adopted over the
veto and became law.
After the. necessary miles Of civil SER
vice red tape had been unwound and
the examinations held, the result
showed but one eligible who had sue
cessfully stood the severe test to which
aspirants to the position of gas and
gas meter inspector had been subjected.
Mayor McAleer has appointed w. F.
Jordon to the position and his bond
will be approved by the council tomor-
row and the new department opened. AS
soon as the necessary apparatus ar
rives, the gas furnished to the citizens
Of the city will be tested and those de-
string their meters examined may have
1t done. ali' TreH ish ssrt4
In discussing the work connected
with his department, Gas Inspector
Jordon said yesterday: isiH1
For the past five years I have been
engaged in the gas business, the prac-
tical gas making business. I was pre-
pared for this work by a special course
in Stanford university, from which in
stitution / graduated in 1898. -s-
Have / ever worked for any of the
gas companies doing business in Los
Angeles? No, and, so far as know, i
have never worked for any of their
branches. For two years l managed
the San Bernardino Gas and Electric
company and had charge OF the gas
plant. / also had charge of the plants
at Redlands and Riverside. Lately,
have been with the Associated Gas
companies of Whittier and Pomona.
.'Did they give us hard examin-
alton? Well, l guess yes. The JOB
does not justify the examination they
handed out to us. OF course, the an
alyzing of gas and the testing OF
meters is particular work, especially
the former. L will need considerable
apparatus, and I understand it is the
intention to fit up the department In
such manner as to make possible the
best work and insure the best results.
"Of course, in my business have had
wide experience in analyzing gas and
proving meters, and anticipate no trou-
BILE along this line. The apparatus
which is used in the various processes
makes absolutely correct work possible.
II will not be able to do much work
until the necessary appliances arrive,
but they can be had on short notice and
as soon as 1 am fitted up I will be
ready for active work"