Excerpt from Thirty-Third Annual Report of the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: For the Calendar Year 1917, Including Tables From the Annual Returns for the Year Ending June 30, 1917 In 1861, in establishing the office of State inspector of gas and gas meters, the law specified that illuminating gas shall not be merchantable which has a minimum value of less than twelve candles, and provided for its inspection upon the request of the local authorities. In 1880 a standard of fifteen candles (subsequently increased to sixteen) and certain require ments as to purity were prescribed, and provision was made for the periodic inspection and test of the gas of every company supplying over fifty consumers. Gas was then used almost wholly for illumination. During the intervening period its use for cooking and heating has increased enormously the world over, and the introduction of incandescent mantles has to a considerable degree superseded open flame burners for lighting. While data are not available for an accurate statement, it is believed that a good deal more than half of the gas supplied by the companies of the Commonwealth is put to uses in which its heating rather than its illuminating power represents its real value to the consumer. In England and Canada and in several States in this country a calorific rather than a candle-power standard has been established for the public testing of gas. For some time this Board, in connection with its regular testing, has carried on experimental work looking to the adoption of a calorific standard. It believes that the time Is now ripe for a more definite step in this direction, but so qualified that a final conclusion as to the standard shall be left to the Board within certain prescribed limits. It therefore recommends the adop tion of the accompanying act marked D.

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