Note: Any variation in the tabulations from the above totals is to be accounted for by the fact that the reports to June 30, 1906, received since Jan. 1, are incorporated in the tabulations.

The aggregate capital represented in these two tables and employed under the supervision of the Commission is $546,432,15, an increase over 1905 of approximately $7,000,000. The increase is explained in the natural growth of the gas and electric industries in the State, the formation of new companies and the extension of business of old companies. No comparison is made here with the figures furnished the Commission for 1905 because such figures were of necessity incomplete. The Commission was not created until the summer of that year and the time was not sufficient to permit all companies coming under its supervision to make reports.

The amount of coal and water gas sold to consumers and for public lighting was 34,738,143,747 cubic feet as against 29,569,810,417 cubic feet for the preceding year, an increase of 17 per cent., and the total amount of gas sold by all companies, including acetylene, gasoline and natural gas is 39,858,755,381 cubic feet. as against 37,914,016,400 cubic feet for the preceding year, an increase of about 5 per cent.

The number of open arc lamps employed in street lighting by electric companies decreased from 9,191 to 8,605, and the number of enclosed arcs increased from 24,055 to 25,767. 50,101 incandescents are employed in street lighting.

*One plant,

INSPECTION OF GAS.

Although gas for illuminating purposes has been supplied in this State since 1823, no regular or systematic inspection or examination has been made of the purity and illuminating value `of the product supplied, except in the City of New York, until the past year when the Commission established a department for such purpose. The results of the tests of gas made throughout the State by the Commission have been tabulated and the data obtained will enable the Commission to definitely fix standards. of purity, quality and candle power. After a hearing, as required by law, an order will be issued requiring all companies furnishing 15,000,000 or more cubic feet of gas annually to install an improved photometer for use in making frequent tests for candle power. Standards of candle power and purity of the various kinds of gas furnished have been determined, and these standards, subject to possible modifications, will be fixed by an order of the Commission after the companies have been heard.

The gas of thirty-seven companies was tested in the following places: Albion, Auburn, Batavia, Bath, Binghamton, Brockport, Buffalo, Canandaigua, Cohoes, Cooperstown, Corning, Cortland, Dansville, Dunkirk, Elmira, Fredonia, Geneseo, Geneva, Ithaca, Kingston, LeRoy, Lockport, Mechanieville, Medina, Niagara Falls, Oneida, Oneonta, Oswego, Owego, Rochester, Schenectady, Syracuse, Tonawanda, Troy, Utica, Waverly and Warsaw.

In a

Of the companies whose product was tested, twenty-two supply coal gas, ten water gas, four mixed gas comprised of coal and water gas in varying proportions, and one natural gas. number of instances, especially coal gas, the candle power was found to be very low, owing generally to the disinclination to use enrichers, but due in some cases to lack of capacity in the works and to the age and condition of the apparatus in use. It is the policy of the Commission to report results of the tests to the companies and to order improvements where deficiencies are discovered. So far as the tests made may be taken as an index of the quality of gas being supplied in the State, the following general results are shown in the accompanying tables, although it is not to be assumed that one test in each instance furnishes an adequate basis for accurate conclusions.

INSPECTION OF GAS METERS.

The report of the State Inspector of Gas Meters to the Commission for the period from December 1, 1905 (date of last report) to December 31, 1906, shows the entire number of gas meters inspected and sealed by the department was as follows: New Meters..

Repaired Meters
Private Meters

139,149

206,161

5,548

350,858

The result of the tests of private meters during the year shows that out of a total of 5,548, 1,446 were found to have run fast, 883 slow and 3,219 correct, giving an average of 60 per cent. correct, 15 per cent. slow and 25 per cent. fast meters.

The proof of the fast meters did not exceed 15 per cent. and the entire number showed an average of from 6 to 7 per cent. In all cases where it has been shown as a result of such tests that an excessive charge has been made, a certificate to that effect is issued by the Inspector to the consumer, and a rebate covering the amount of the excessive charge is allowed by the company affected.

ACCIDENTS.

Five hundred and forty accidents were reported to the Commission during the year. Of these, 439 were minor accidents. A classification has been made of the 101 remaining cases; 28 fatal accidents are shown among these, 9 of which were caused by gas and 19 by electricity; of the non-fatal accidents, 40 were caused by electricity and 33 by gas. The form of report requires detailed statements of all accidents, in order that directions may be issued to prevent recurrence so far as possible when the accident is the result of defective apparatus or improper operation.

HIGH POTENTIAL LINES.

Long distance transmission of electricity for general power and lighting purposes at relatively high voltages is increasing throughout the State. The line construction of the companies engaged therein is special as to insulators, poles and safety devices, on account of the increased hazard due to the high voltages employed. The various companies have installed lightning arresters at all generating and receiving stations and in some cases along the line. Of the transformers in use on high tension lines, 12,770 kilowatts are oil-cooled, 87,581 air-cooled, 23,750 water-cooled and 52,150 oil-insulated and water-cooled, a total of 176,251 kilowatts in stations and sub-stations. A list of the plants, giving some important details, as of December 1st, follows: