y of the stations. There was an average cost per lamp
for meter operation of twenty-two cents a year, and each meter took
care of an average of seventeen lamps. It is worthy of note, as to the
promptness with which the Edison stations became paying properties,
that four of the metered stations were earning upward of 15 per cent.
on their capital stock; three others between 8 and 10 per cent.; eight
between 5 and 8 per cent.; the others having been in operation too short
a time to show definite results, although they also went quickly to
a dividend basis. Reports made in the discussion at the meeting by
engineers showed the simplicity and success of the meter. Mr. C. L.
Edgar, of the Boston Edison system, stated that he had 800 of the meters
in service cared for by two men and three boys, the latter employed in
collecting the meter cells; the total cost being perhaps $2500 a year.
Mr. J. W. Lieb wrote from Milan, Italy, that he had in use on the Edison
system there 360 meters ranging from 350 ampere-hours per month up to
30,000.

In this connection it should be mentioned that the Association of Edison
Illuminating Companies in the same year adopted resolutions unanimously
to the effect that the Edison meter was accurate, and that its use was
not expensive for stations above one thousand lights; and that the best
financial results were invariably secured in a station selling current
by meter. Before the same association, at its meeting in September,
1898, at Sault Ste. Marie, Mr. C. S. Shepard read a paper on the meter
practice of the New York Edison Company, giving data as to the large
number of Edison meters in use and the transition to other types, of
which to-day the company has several on its circuits: "Until October,
1896, the New York Edison Company metered its current in consumer's
premises exclusively by the old-style chemical meters, of which there
were connected on that date 8109. It was then determined to purchase
no more." Mr. Shepard went on to state that the chemical meters were
gradually displaced, and that on September 1, 1898, there were on the
system 5619 mechanical and 4874 chemical. The meter continued in general
service during 1899, and probably up to the close of the century.

Mr. Andrews relates a rather humorous meter story of those early days:
"The meter man at Sunbury was a firm and enthusiastic believer in the
correctness of the Edison meter, having personally verified its reading
many times b