The San Francisco call., 1909-03-12
GAS PRICE SCARS WHILE
SUPPLY IS INFERIOR
Consumers to Be Given Opportunity to Voice
Complaints Before Supervisors

TO fry steak several times, but dis
covered that the vapor which ignited
would not burn his finger Like the
other residents along Sixth avenue he
was unable 70 remedy the evil.
For the stuff that was burned in
The home Of p J. Connolly. 156 Sixth
avenue, during February, $40 was paid.
There are only four persons in this
family and gas bill for January
amounted to s..
D. Rozenswing 1911 Steiner street.
has witnessed a remarkable change in
the gas bills in the last few months
In December the bill was $3.50. the
quality of gas poor. In January the
collector was paid 1915. The gas was
a trifie better. Last month he paid
slz.4o and the quality was poor.
LESS USED AND MORE PAID
The price of gas has risen until it
scars said Z. Smith, 1907 Steiner
street. He said that the quality was
sometimes good, but often bad al
though the difference in quality was
not met by difference in price.
few months ago Mrs. e. Cohen
1885 Steiner street. paid 50 and Sc
monthly for gas. The meter readings
for January and February recorded
that she had used less gas than before
but her bills amounted to 50 and S11
The quality was very poor she said.
Mrs Katherine Henshen, 1927 Steiner
street, only uses gas for Illuminating
purposes. but she has lost several
dodgers because the lights were poor.
Fritz & killhofer, saloon Keepers
1928 Steiner street, found a good friend
in an old range and~a new gas COM
pany.
In the Sunset district conditions are
just as bad. Between Seventh and
Tenth avenues and H and 1 streets the
gas pressure is so light that it is prae-
tically impossible to cook at all in the
evening between and 9 o'clock, at the
time it is most needed.
GAS BILLS INCREASING
In spite of this the gas bills have
been from 20 to 80 per cent higher
than they were last year and many
people have been obliged to take out
the gas stoves they had been using
and put in ranges because of the poor
service and exorbitant charges. A
number of people complained that the
lighting gas was SO poor that it was
impossible to read by even two jets
turned full on and they had been
obliged TO supplement the gas with
petroleum. lamps. The same COM
plants in most cases were applied to
the electric lights. which were said
TO be so dingy that both gas and cleo
tricity had to be turned on together
Some Of the store keepers spoke of
putting large lamps into their stores
to take the place of the gas and cleo
tricity.
Mrs. Gassaway OF 1888 Ninth avenue
had the gas stove taken out and coal
range put in its place and claims that
the expense is only one quarter Of what
it was in the gas range days, to say
nothing OF the increased comfort and
convenience of meals on time.
HEATING QUALITY LACKING
The pressure was so low that 1
could not boil water on the stove and
1t was absolutely out of the question
to try to prepare meal between $3.50
and 9 in the evening" said Mrs. Gassa-
way. Nevertheless my bill for cooking
and lighting, with only four people in
the house. was never less than 81
'The light is so inferior that it is
simply miserable to try and read by
one or even two jets, and after 5
until IL almost goes out so that I
have been obliged to use the electric
light as well, and this is just about as
bad as far as expense is concerned. I
use a gas slFlf for making a cup of
chocolate al night and my bill for that
is never less than 81. The service is
thing to improve IT,"
w. A. Cree, a dentist, whoes office Is
at the corner of II street and Ninth
avenue, complained that he had been
frequently overcharged for gas which
was of a very inferior quality, and
that the electricity which he was
obliged TO use for his dental appara-
tus was frequently cut off while he
was using it,
Il don't like to make a complaint
against the company" said DR.. Cree
because they only make it worse for
one if they see his name in the news
paper attached TO a complaint. have
found that they are willing to repair
the worn out parts when hard enough
kick is made, but they have very fre-
quently overcharged me for gas which
was of a poor quality, and there was
no redress. They charge too much for
the electricity. too. and last month my
bin for only two lamps was over $6."
Miss Clark, at 1916 Tenth street,
complained that the pressure was poor
nd he a farl