90 CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SMALL GASWORKS. 



one can remember when the district occupied a seat a long 

 way back, and there were ten or more men at the works 

 for one on the district. Now the tendency is rather the 

 other way, and the outside staff is equal in importance and 

 numbers to the inside. So the small works manager of 

 to-day must be always in evidence and accessible to con- 

 sumers. He should have his pliers, his pressure gauge and 

 descriptive pamphlets of gas appliances always in his 

 pocket, and be competent to do the right thing for the 

 customers and for the company. 



The quarterly reading and booking up of the meter 

 indices should be undertaken by the manager, as it affords 

 excellent opportunity for getting in touch with the con- 

 sumers. It is important, if the accounts are to be kept 

 accurately, that each index should be taken promptly, and 

 on the same day in each year. A fair estimate of the lost 

 or " unaccounted-for " gas can then be arrived at, and the 

 consumer is not annoyed by the irregularity of having a 

 bill covering only eighty-five days at one time and ninety- 

 five at another. But there is no necessity to rush round 

 frantically, without time for a " Good morning," and 

 annoying people by going into kitchens or living rooms 

 without knocking, in the endeavour to get the whole thing 

 done in one day. The usual closing time on the works 

 carbonizing books is 6 a.m. on the first of the month 

 following the quarter day, and the meter taking should be 

 proportioned so as to give an equal margin before and 

 after. For example, if there are 200 meters, 100 should 

 be taken on the 3ist, and the remainder on the ist. 

 Keeping this point in view, it is easy to spread the taking 

 over two days or more. It is not to be expected, of 

 course, that a lengthy discussion can be engaged in at any 

 one house, but much can be done in a few minutes, and if 



