COMPLAINTS. 139 



argues that if such were the case, the trouble would be 

 always evident, and that the fact of the supply being satis- 

 factory at times is a proof that the fittings are all right. 

 The trouble is sometimes increased by the indefinite and 

 unreliable nature of the information sent to the gasworks, 

 which may be by means of a servant or lad who knows 

 nothing about the facts, and is apt to throw in a few details 

 that are more or less imaginary. Every gasworks manager 

 knows what it is to get a complaint that the gas is bad from 

 6.30 to 7 p.m. every evening. He calls at 6.40, and finds 

 that there is not much the matter, and that for some inex- 

 plicable reason the supply is much better. It may be 

 darkly hinted that he has " done something " at the works. 

 The fact that the trouble may be, and probably is, due to 

 the consumer's fittings will be evident to anyone who has 

 attentively perused Chapters V and VIII ; and the remarks 

 made there in respect to the size of service pipes may also 

 be applied to the consideration of the size of the internal 

 fittings. 



Complaints are most frequent in respect to detached 

 houses standing in their own grounds, and probably some 

 considerable distance back from the road. The service 

 pipe has been included in the builder's estimate, and one 

 often finds f-inch pipe specified for a twenty-room house. 

 The position is aggravated by taking the service to the 

 back of the house, where the meter is fixed ; with the result 

 that the lights in the principal rooms, which are in the 

 front part of the house, are situated farthest from the meter, 

 and are the first to suffer if there is any shortage. Fre- 

 quently there is a good light in the kitchen, and the cooker 

 always gets sufficient gas, but the drawing-room supply is 

 indifferent if incandescent burners are used, there is not 

 sufficient pressure to give a steady light. It must be diffi- 



