A study of the inspections of the companies made during the five years from 1903 to 1907, inclusive, shows the following facts:

From Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, 1907, inclusive, there were 59,475 meters inspected, as compared with 61,034 during the entire calendar year of 1906. The period for 1907 closed with No

vember 30, to correspond with the fiscal year of the State, as now fixed by law. Meters which pass inspection are stamped with a brass badge and a wax seal, which give the inspection number and date. These are so placed that the rate of registration cannot be changed unless both are mutilated. Whenever meters are opened for any purpose, they must be again tested and sealed before being placed in use by the company. Of the meters examined in 1907, 356 were known as complaint meters, the others being new or recently repaired; 26,391 were known as pre-payment meters. The following table exhibits a comparison of the number inspected during five years:

Complaint meters,

Total number,

1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907.

1,200 1,215 758 424 3561 42,518 45,894 52,030 61,034 59,4751

1 For eleven months.

Four meter provers and fourteen experimental wet meters for photometric use were calibrated during the year.

Complaint Meters.

Of complaint meters, 356 were inspected during the eleven months of 1907, as compared with 424 in the calendar year 1906. Of these, 2 would pass gas but would not register. The average error of the remaining 354 meters was 1.64 per cent. fast; 177, or 50 per cent., were fast, the average error being 4.46 per cent.; 29, or 8.19 per cent., were slow, the average error being 7.74 per cent.; 148, or 41.81 per cent., were correct within the legal limits, being no more than 2 per cent. fast or slow. Of the fast meters, 138 registered between 2 and 5 per cent. fast, 36 between 5 and 10 per cent. and 3 between 10 and 15 per cent. Of the slow meters, 18 registered between 2 and 5 per cent. slow, 8 between 5 and 10 per cent., 1 was 17 per cent. slow, 1, 30 per cent., and 1, 45 per cent. slow.

A more detailed statement of the meter-testing work appears in the following financial statement for the eleven months ending Nov. 30, 1907:—

Number.

1,.

25,831,

Number of Each Size, and Fees for testing Meters.

Expenses, including salaries of gas and gas meter inspectors,

11,133 54

The gas companies at Greenfield and Taunton have during the year taken advantage of the respective legislative acts amending their charters, so as, with the approval of this Board, to enlarge the territory in which each may carry on its business. Upon the separate petitions by these companies, such action appearing to be consistent with the public interest, the Board passed the following orders:

Whereas, By chapter 124 of the Acts of the current year the Greenfield Gas Light Company is authorized, upon the consent of the selectmen of the town of Montague and by the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, to carry on the business of furnishing gas for heat, light and power in the town of Montague; and

Whereas, It appears that the consent of the board of selectmen of the town of Montague has been given; it is hereby

Ordered, That the consent of the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners contemplated by said act is hereby given to complete the authorization of the Greenfield Gas Light Company to carry on the business of furnishing gas for heat, light and power in said town of Montague. (May 27.)

Whereas, By chapter 126 of the Acts of the current year the Taunton Gas Light Company was authorized, upon the approval of the selectmen of the town of Dighton and of the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, to carry on the business of furnishing gas for heat, light and power in the town of Dighton; and

Whereas, It appears that the approval of the selectmen of the town of Dighton has been given; it is hereby

Ordered, That the approval of the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners contemplated by said act is hereby given to complete the authorization of the Taunton Gas Light Company to carry on the business of furnishing gas for heat, light and power in said town of Dighton. (July 1.)

BOSTON CONSOLIDATED GAS COMPANY.

Debt Payments from the Sale of Real Estate. Section 7 of chapter 417 of the Acts of the year 1903, which is the charter of the Boston Consolidated Gas Company, provides that" if in the conduct of its business said Boston Consolidated Gas Company shall deem it advisable to sell and convey any real estate conveyed to it for the purposes of this act or if any part of such real estate shall hereafter be taken in the exercise of the right of eminent domain, the proceeds of such sale or sales or condemnation or taking shall be applied, with the approval of the board of gas and electric light commissioners, to the payment and cancellation of obligations of the company, or, with like approval, to any of the purposes for which said board might approve the issue of new capital stock, and, if not thereby exhausted, to the reduction of the capital stock of the company, upon such terms as the board may approve." The Board has received during the year two petitions for approval of the application of the proceeds of real estate sales to the payment of debts. Under these the Board has approved of the application of $1,053,337.08, as appears from the following

orders adopted by the Board, and for the reasons stated in the preambles thereto :

In the matter of the petition of the Boston Consolidated Gas Company for the approval of the application of the proceeds of the sale of certain real estate to the payment and cancellation of certain obligations of the company,

Whereas, It appears that the said Boston Consolidated Gas Company has sold and conveyed certain parcels of real estate which were conveyed to it for the purposes stated in chapter 417 of the Acts of the year 1903, to wit:

1. A parcel of land located on Pearl Street, in the town of Brookline, and containing 7,143 square feet of land, more or less.

2. A parcel of land at Glover's corner, in that part of Boston known as Dorchester, and situated on a proposed street near Dorchester Avenue, containing 8,190 square feet of land, more or less.

3. A certain parcel of land on Dorchester Street, in that part of Boston known as South Boston, containing 62,806 square feet of land, more or less, together with a parcel of land or flats adjoining the same, containing about 202,727 square feet, more or less.

4. A parcel of land situated on Dorchester Street, in that part of Boston known as South Boston, containing 30,375 square feet, more or less, and has received from the sale of said parcels the sum of $53,069; and

Whereas, It appears that, along with other additions and improvements to its plant, the said company has expended since June 15, 1905, for a new holder at the central station in Roxbury the sum of $226,141.50, and that the cost of said new holder is represented in the obligations of the company now outstanding; it is

Ordered, That the approval of the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners be and is hereby given to the application of the said sum of $53,069 toward the payment and cancellation of so much of the obligations of the company now outstanding as exist on account of the expenditure for said new holder. (January 19.)

In the matter of the petition of the Boston Consolidated Gas Company for the approval of the application of the proceeds of the sale of certain real estate under the provisions of section 7 of chapter 417 of the Acts of the year 1903,

Whereas, It appears that the said Boston Consolidated Gas Company has sold and conveyed certain parcels of real estate which were conveyed to it for the purposes stated in chapter 417 of the Acts of the year 1903, to wit:

1. A parcel of land located on the northerly side of Commercial Street, in the city of Boston, containing 189,723 square feet of land, more or less.