The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-10

aaLaAhfNAAI1 Hh8AN aAAaV 0@shR@
Can DS some Things the OAd Board
Could rot D0--Gas Meter inspections.
Tho Public Service Commission has begun
the preparation Of the report IL must make,
under the provisions OF the act creating
the board, TO the State Legislature ON the
second Monday OF January.
In the report the commission will present
figures 70 show that IL has increased the
services on chs subway and elevated lines
In Manhattan and The Bronx from s to % 20
per cent. and that there rave been 20 per
Cent. increases on the Broadway and Fourth
avenue surface lines.
So FAR the commission has received about
$50 complaints regarding transit conditions
In this city. The report will lay stress on
the fact that very few of these complaints
were frivolous. and that in fact the majority
Of them were Of sufficient substance TO
justify a thorough Investigation.
Instances OF the method Of treating
minor complaints are thus summarized
in a statement issued on behalf OF the COM
mission.
An example Of this method Of treating a
minor complaint is furnished by the suRges-
ton made at various times during the summer
and early fall by din erent compliments that
oA ANAVoAN1 Al ~ ANAN
lines should be instructed to keep all ven-
tilatOrs open in the cars. A brief letter to
the company resulted In proper instructions
being Immediately issued to conductors and
enforced for tho ventilation Of ears.
Similarly a complaint regarding noise mt
night incidental to the construction Of the
McAdOo tunnel under sixth avenue was taken
UP with the COMPANY and the complainant
satisfied without the necessity of an order.
The company upon receiving from the COM
mission "A copy OF one OF these complaints
Immediately made arrangements for the sus-
pension during the night of the noisiest gea-
lures OF the construction. such as blasting.
and the complainant was satisfied with the
change and 80 Informed the commission,
The former Rapid Transit Commission.
10 will be shown In the report, bad but one
method OF attacking the transit problem.
that is, by additional rapid transit raj lroads,
which in some cases might parallel eX-
listing lines which II properly operated
would permit satisfactory service. II could,
II the Board Of Estimate and ApportiOn-
ment were willing to appropriate the money,
construct and lease new auhways. The
Public Service Commission can do not
only this but can also order improvements
in the service Of existing lines, thus making
possible Improvement Immediately instead
OF after several years Of construction.
Using the method Of the old Rapid Transit
Commission, Il has smoothed out the diff
culties In the way Of the Fourth avenue
project and will within a week or 30 adver-
Cse for bids for the construction OF that
route.
The commissioner will say in their
report that II ia their intent 10 take up inn
mediately the problem Of increasing the
transit facilities Of the East River bridges.
Among the duties which devolved upon
the commission were those Of the former
State Inspector OF Gas Meters. n state
ment of the commissions work, which will
be told i'm detail in It's report. has this
reference TO the meter inspection:
Owing to the necessity Of recognizing
the former department of gas meter in
spection the commission did not begin
actual work Of testing meters until July 10,
on which date Il secured the services of "A
few expert gas meter testers and began
work. At the present time the commission
has a force Of twenty men at work and has
made actual tests TO November I OF 74.O9l
meters. During the month Of October.
with the full force Of men al work, II averaged
over 1000 meters a day. or az the rate 81
over 800. 900 meters per year. The magnitude
of this work may be appreciated when IL Is
considered that each Of these meters has
had an actual test and has been sealed with
wax so a. 20 prevent IL being opened with
out destroying the seal.
In addition 70 the work Of testing new
and repaired meters the commission has
taken w the work Of testing meters upon
compliant 81 NpHSAUifIS. NNuh "a letlpd
Of three months the commission has received
over seven hundred and fifty application, for
the test Of meters upon complaint These
applications COne from every portion of
the Ave b~UToughs constituting the city Of
New York. Upon the receipt of each COM
plant the commission has instituted a system
by which a thorough examination Of the
meter IL made upon the premises OF the
applicant. and n this way has been enables
to discover a number of errors in the matter
OF overinde xinE Of gas bills or errors In the
matter Of charging consumers for gas con-
aunied from wrong meters. In one instance
the commission discovered "A meter which
registered over Is per cent. fast. 30 that for
every 1000 feet Of gas consumed the con-
sumner was charged AZ the rate Of o.. so. This.
however. was an exceptional case.
The commission recognizes the fact that
it has a broad Geld in which to work on mat
rers of this kind. and where IL finds n con
I sumer has a iuatiiiable cause for complaint
has used It's efforts to secure a prompt
settlement. the work now being done ny
| the commission In the way Of testing gas
meters will, In the opinion Of the commission.
! do away with a vast quantity Of causes for
complaint on the part of consumers. The
work Of making actual tests OF gas meters
is being done by the commission for the
first time IN the history Of the STATE and Of
the United states. with the probable ex-
ceptiOn Of the state Of Massachusetts New
York city has In active use, roughly speak
ing, In the neighborhOod Of 500 900 gas meters.