Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-16


@ %
% 81 have asked MIR. Read to state @
@ the situation frankly and he has @
@ done so in his report" was Mayor @
(. McAIeer's comment on the caus- q
g tic gas report. g
5000 8 @ @ 900 o O o o D@@%1 @
Gas and Meter Inspector r. L. Cabell
Read has made lengthy report sum-
ming UP the gas situation in Los An
geles and recommending ordinances
which he says will give adequate relief.
Innumerable complaints have been
made at the city hall about the made
quate gas supply in Los Angeles and
the report shifts the responsibility on
the legislative department.
Inspector Read says:
1.-THE work of this department comes
under two heads-O gas inspection
and (2) gas meter inspection.
Under the head of gas inspection
this department is required to test the
candle power and heat value of all gas
furnished to the city or its citizens at
least once a week. The ordinance reg
ulating these tests provides that the
minimum illuminating power shall be
not less than the illuminating power of
sixteen standard sperm candles, each
burning 120 grains per hour when the
cubic feet per hour under standard
conditions; and that the minimum heat
value shall be not less than $50 gross
British thermal units per cube foot of
gas, measured under standard condi-
tions, one British thermal unit being
the amount of heat necessary to raise
the temperature of one pound of water
through one degree Fahrenheit
Comply with Law
1.-THE Los Angeles Gas and Electric
company's gas shows an average il
Eliminating power of 1921 candles,
which is 2.21 candles above the legal
minimum; also the average heat value
of their gas is 6100S gross British ther-
NAL units per cubic foot. which is 60.6S
units above the legal minimum
This company has not been in de-
fault at any time during the year in
respect to the tests required by the
ordinance regulating the same.
Peoples Gas and Coke Company
THE gas furnished by the Peoples
Gas and Coke company shows an aver
age illuminating power of 1924 can
dies, which is 2.24 candles above the
legal minimum; also an average heat
value of 6O6.15 gross British thermal
units per cubic foot which is 56.15
units above the legal minimum.
"This company has not been in de-
fault in respect to either test required
by ordinance, except on one day-Oc-
tober- -22-when.t the heat value showed
545 B. T. u, which is 5 b. T. U. be-
low the legal minimum. on giving the
company notice of this fact / was in
formed that this default was due to
an unavoidable accident; the gas
holder had gotten loose and turned
sideways, thus rendering it useless
for the time being. The officials prom
ised to remedy this low heat value as
soon as they could repair their holder.
This they did at once, and the test
made the following day was above the
legal minimum.
Meter Inspection
During the year there have been
forty-seVen meters tested on complaint
of customers OF these twenty-five,
or 532 per cent, were found to be cor
rect, which is taken to mean not more
than per cent fast or slow; eleven, or
23.4 per cent, were found to be fast,
and II slow. The average error of the
fast meters was 6.12 per cent fast, the
fastest registering 17.6 per cent more
gas than was actually passing. OF
these eleven fast meters two were be-
tween and per cent fast, one be-
tween and per cent fast, two be-
tween and per cent fast, three be-
tween 5 and per cent fast, one be-
tween and 7 per cent fast, one be-
tween and per cent fast and one
between II and Is per cent fast"
Read Has Troubles
Inspector Read mourns his lot in
bitter terms i'll one section of his re-
port, saying
This office has been flooded with
complaints, demands and threats.
have been asked to do all manner OF
xuifh Hirn c h
ment if / did not afford some relief
and abused for not being able to dc
anything.
''In reply to all complaints I have
stated that under no possible construc-
tion of the ordinance regulating this
office could this office take any steI
which would afford the slightest relief;
that relief, if any, could only come
through legislative action on the part
of your honorable body. The ordinances
regulating this office only provide fol
the testing of gas furnished as to heat
ing value and Illuminating power, an6
the testing of meters complained of
Hence for any remedy for the present
troubles the public must look to yor
for relief.
BreakdoWns Only Starting
"Having no authority to make {
physical examination of the Los An
geles companys plant 1 have refraineC
from attempting to do so. But sucl
an examination, if made, would be o
doubtful benefit or utility under thu
circumstances
THE same causes which brought
about recent breakdowns have existed
all the time. 1t is these same causes
which are chiefly responsible fer thu
general dissatisfaction in the service
and the numerous complaints i'm re
gard to high bills and incorrect meters
The meters are usually blamed for this
but in reality have little to do with it
The True Causes
''The true causes for the great dis
satisfaction which so Justly exists witt
the present conditions OF gas service Il
this city are the Out-Of-date system o
manufacture and distribution in use b!
the Los Angeles Gas and Electric com
pany and the apparent lack OF desire Ol
it's part to make the necessary outlay I,
keep up with this enterprising city
progress. as well as the low standard D