dence submitted on the increasing costs in an effort to get an order fixing a sliding rate that would vary with the costs of coal and oil. The Commission decided that such a rate could not be authorized and on October 14th, 1920 issued an order fixing the maximum rate for gas at $1.30 per thousand cubic feet in addition to the service charge of 40c per month. This order was effective for a period of 5 months from November 1st, 1920. Through an oversight no provision was made to induce prompt payment of bills. Later the Company petitioned for an amendment to the order in this respect and the City of Rochester through its Corporation Counsel petitioned for a re-opening of the case on the grounds that coal and oil had materially decreased in cost after the Commission's order fixing the rate had been issued. Both petitions were denied by the Commission, but the period for the high rate was shortened by one month with our consent and the Company ordered to file revenue and expense statements on February 15th instead of March 15th, 1921. În effect the Commission's order fixing a four-month period for the high gas rate accomplished the result the Company wished to accomplish by the sliding rate based on the cost of coal and oil. In other words, it gave the Commission an opportunity to review during the four-month period the cost of making gas and base a new rate on its findings.

In the month of January 1921 the Company entered into contracts for its supply of gas coal for the entire year of 1921 and for gas oil for ten months of the year. The prices obtained under these contracts are materially less than we have paid for these materials during the period the high rate has been in effect and had a decided bearing on fixing the new rate. As a matter of fact, they are less than any similar contracts that have come before the Commission for some time.

We have detailed the principal facts in connection with both the increase in gas rate and the decrease in order to emphasize once again the fact that the increase in rate was entirely due to the increases in cost of raw materials and did not mean an increase in the net revenue of the Company as the amount received through the increased rate was in turn paid to others for the increased cost of coal and oil.

In discussing the rate question with various people we find that there is some confusion as to how changes in rate are put into effect. Possibly the following may be of interest and help in getting a clearer comprehension of the procedure-A company operating under an order of the Commission can change its rates downward on thirty days' notice by filing its new schedule with the Commission and with the authorities in the various municipalities without an order from the Commission. To increase, it is necessary to get the consent of the Commission. The Commission has the power to waive the thirty days required in filing new schedules before a change in rate can be made. The rate orders of the Commission fix the date on which a rate becomes effective. For instance, the order increasing the rates of this Company was effective November 1st, 1920, and all the gas consumed prior to November 1st had to be billed at the old rate. It is a physical impossibility to read all the meters of all the consumers on one day in a city the size of Rochester. Therefore, so far as each consumer is concerned his meter must be read on its regular day after the effective date of the order and billed at the old rate. We were compelled to read all the meters during the month of November and bill at the old rate because November readings carried gas consumed in the months of October and November. The increase in rate was

put in force on meters read on December 1st, and thereafter. Similarly, in the decrease in rate the effective date of the order is March 1st, 1921, and the Company must read all meters during the month of March and bill consumers before a change is made in the rate. Those customers whose meters were read in the early part of December paid the higher rate on their gas consumption during the month of November but their meters will be read first in the month of April and they will be the first to receive the benefit of the reduction in the rate. These consumers' meters which were read in the latter part of December paid the high rate on very little of their November consumption as the readings covered practically all of the month of December. But these consumers will not receive the benefit of the decrease in rate until their meters are read in the later part of April. All consumers of the Company who were on its books during the entire period will have received

AS

bills at the high rate for the months of December, January, February and March and necessarily the Company receives the benefit of the increased revenue for the four-month period. All of which is in accord with the order of the Commission dated October 14th, 1920, the amended order of January 6th, 1921 and the final order of February 24th, 1921.

In conclusion, let us reiterate once again that the increase in rates we were forced to petition the Public Service Commission for, were no more popular with the Company than with the public, and we are frankly just as pleased at being able to reduce the rates as we know our patrons are glad to have them reduced, especially so if we are permitted to quote from the order of the Commission without being accused of boasting, that the decrease is largely due to "Careful business management of said corporation and by reason of advantageous contracts made for the supply of materials."

S Rochester expands in size and extent the gas distribution system must grow to meet the increased demands for gas for industrial and domestic consumption. For several years there has been a rapid growth in the southwestern section of the City. The gas for this section has heretofore been supplied through two regulators, one of which is located at the end of the West Side medium pressure main at the corner of York Street and West Avenue, and the other at the end of the East Side medium pressure main, which crosses Clarissa Street Bridge and runs along Bartlett Street to the corner of Genesee Street and Arnett Blvd.

In the summer of 1919 it became

evident that the increased domestic consumption in this section and the prospective consumption by large industrial consumers in Lincoln Park would make additional extensions necessary, and after due consideration the West Side medium pressure line out Maple Street was extended from Child Street to Field Road, and south on Field Road to West Avenue, a distance of 7604 ft. In order to tie in with the low pressure distribution system, a 6" regulator was also installed at the corner of Field Road and West Avenue. In consideration of the prospect of supplying considerable gas to the Pfaudler Company, a bypass was laid out to take gas from the medium pressure line and send it

the line of the trench could be located so that it was possible to use the trenching machine for 2000 feet.

In order to lay the pipe with the least labor and to make joints sufficiently strong to withstand the maximum pressure of five lbs. per square inch required, it was necessary to perform the work in a definite manner. The pipe was laid out along the line of the proposed trench, with the bells facing one direction, as is shown in Figure No. 2 by B. Then when the trench was completely excavated, the pipe was easily rolled on skids to a position over the trench and lowered into position by means of a chain fall suspended from a tripod. This tripod is shown in Figure No. 1.

The lengths of pipe were joined together as shown in Figure No. 3. After the pipe was placed in position, with the end of the last pipe laid inside of the bell of the pipe just preceding it, a rope yarn was driven in by means of a pneumatic hammer operated by compressed air. After this cushion of yarn was in place, a rope of

Fig. 2. Shows pipe along trench which is being dug.

Fig. 3. Illustrates manner of caulking joint with pneumatic air hammer and the difficulties met with in laying main close to other pipe. Coils of lead wool flattened to V-shape, air compressor and hose shown in background.

shredded lead, called "lead wool," was then driven in. This rope of lead wool, shown on a spool B and in the hands of a workman on the extreme left-hand side of Figure No. 1, feels and looks exactly like hemp rope except that it is much heavier. It is very soft and flexible and in order to caulk in a satisfactory manner, it is pounded into a compact V shaped strand about 14" wide and just long enough to reach around the 16" pipe and lap two or three inches. A coil of this V shaped strand is shown in Figure No. 3 just beyond the bell, at A. The lead wool is compressed in the bell by means of the air hammer until it has the same consistency as poured lead, but holds the gas much more efficiently than the poured lead joint.

Many difficulties are encountered in making these joints. In the first place, a great deal of room is required for caulking, and as a result, the so called bell holes must be dug at every