92 CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SMALL GASWORKS. 



and by ascertaining the actual conditions obtaining during 

 the hours of maximum consumption in various parts of 

 the district, there should be no difficulty in arranging a 

 proper pressure schedule. A recording pressure register 

 giving a twenty-four hour diagram, and in some cases seven 

 consecutive diagrams, showing the difference on each day of 

 the week, is the only way of accurately getting at the 

 requirements. But a recording pressure gauge is rather a 

 luxury for the small works, particularly as not more than 

 two dozen diagrams are required in the course of a year. 

 An enterprising firm could do a good trade in letting out 

 portable pressure registers on hire. It must be remem- 

 bered that the conditions, when accurately ascertained, 

 only apply to the present state of affairs, and that altera- 

 tion or additions may upset them entirely. A degree of 

 pressure that gave satisfactory results ten years ago, or two 

 years ago, will not necessarily do so now. If an important 

 change takes place, such as the introduction of a large gas 

 engine, the effect as regards pressure should be carefully 

 ascertained. 



Complaints of insufficient pressure should never be 

 allowed to go by default, but should be followed up to a 

 finish. If the defect is in the consumer's fittings, as it is 

 in nine cases out of ten, and he refuses to have it remedied, 

 he should be made to understand the real facts, and that 

 the company are not responsible. If it is a question of a 

 larger main, or service, it rarely happens that the cost of 

 this is such as to render it wiser to allow the complaint to 

 continue than to effect an alteration or enlargement. 



Consumers do not hesitate to invite the gas company to 

 go to any amount of expense, but if they are asked to 

 renew or extend their own fittings, the tables are turned. 

 A short time ago a personal friend was ragging me as to his 



