UNACCOUNTED-FOR GAS. 



125 



of previous years will give much useful information. Any 

 unusual circumstance likely to influence the result, such 

 as taking the meters a day late, should be noted. 



The public lights, for one reason or another, invariably 

 use more gas than is represented by the nominal consump- 

 tion of the burners multiplied by the hours of burning, 

 even if every care is taken in the matter of prompt lighting 

 and extinguishing, which is not always the case. Particu- 

 larly is this so if the burners are free and ungoverned, 

 and the use of a reliable dry regulator, such as Sugg's 

 or Borradaile's, should never be neglected. I have 

 known instances where, by reason of lack of funds, the 

 public lighting was dispensed with for one winter, and the 

 result was invariably a few units to the credit of the 

 unaccounted-for gas. Lamps standing off for the summer 

 season should be securely capped, in addition to tight- 

 ening the tap. 



In addition to gas sold by contract, there is that used at 

 the works or in the manager's house. If any lights are 

 supplied free for advertising purposes, they should be 

 included under this head. Sometimes a high-power burner 

 in the centre of the market place or at the mayor's house 

 is supplied at ordinary rates. As to the consumption at 

 the works, it should be impressed on everybody concerned 

 that the gas used in the retort house costs just as much to 

 make as that which is sold to the customers, and that as 

 much care should be taken to turn off lights that are not 

 wanted as is exercised by any ordinary consumer. Too 

 often one finds a light or two burning continuously behind 

 the retort bench, or in some similar position where it is not 

 needed once a week. For occasional use about a gasworks, 

 an electric torch is to be recommended, and it is also 

 useful for meter taking. I once knew an astute old man 



