Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-04-17
Office No. IA Superior Street.
CLEVELAND, WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL II, 1861.


constructed. The total number Of feet oi
pipe now laid and in use is ,2I6 feet
equal 10 23.536 miles. The whole number Of
fire hydrants in use at the end Of the year.
is 13s, IN addition TO this there are now AZ
street reservoirs, 25 of which are supplied
with water from the Water Works
The total number Of gallons Of water dis
tributed during the year is 26O, O,220,354 gall
Ions. The number Of gallons per day 40, =
964. The number Of gallons TO each inhabi-
tant lA.ll, and to each consumer l0l.57.
There has not been so large an increase Of
water takers the past year as was hoped for;
this has arisen, we think, mainly from the
depressed state Of business generally pre-
vailiDg in our city, which has compelled q
large proportion Of our population 10 dis
pense with whatever is not strictly q neces-
sity. With the resumption Of an active
business, and consequent more general
prosperity, we think we may reasonably
expect large increase Of water takers and
proPortionate enhancement Of our reve-
nue..
In submitting the Reports of the Super
intendent and the Secretary, the Trustees,
while approving the same as TO most Of the
suggestions made, must dissent from their
Conclusions as TO the advisability or equity
or raising revenue indicated by them sever
ally, but in 80 doing they do not desire 10 be
understood as claiming for the present sys-
tenn perfection, or that it is not susceptible Of
great Improvements. The general impress
sion Chat the present mode is not equitable)
which has obtained throughout the commu
n!ty, and which has attracted the attention Of
the Council insomuch that it has been made
matter Of reference to this Board, demands
f-,r,,
subject and has been the subject Of investi-
CATION for long period without our coming
70 satisfactory conclusion or devising a
system free from objections, and which we
were sure would approximate more nearly
10 equity than the present mode. In dis
cussing the subject, the general proposition
Is assumed that in proportion to the benefits
conferred upon the property within the en-
tire limits Of the corporation should rest the
burthen Of taxation FIR construction and
maintenance Of this great work.
Upon this hypothesis, it is fair to presume,
the OriginatOrs of the scheme and the peO-
pie who voted for the construction Of the
same, assumed that all property in the city
would participate in the general benefit to be
derived therefrom in its sanitary effects up
on the population, in security against exten-
siVe fires, in the comfort of street sprink-
ling, and in the enhanced value of property
consequent upon this convenience, and to the
extent that the interest upon the debt should
be cheerfully borne by taxation upon the
general duplicate until the enterprise should
be self-sustaining from water rents.
The general revolution in business and va
rious circumstances indicates that the period
when it was hoped they would become 50, is
deferred.
It does not, therefore, appear that this
burthen voluntarily assmed should be en-
tirelY cast of, but it is deemed Just that this
burthen should beequalized so as 10 i'm pose
the burthen more in proportion to tho bene-
fits conferred. It is apparent that all prop
rety and every person in the city partiei-
petes in these general benefits, not alike IN
degree for the reason that some portions Of
the city dare no. be exposed to equal hazards
from extensive fires which pertain to other
portions, nor do city lots remote from the
line of distribution pipes participate 10 the
same extent in the incidental protection
from FIRE thereby, and the enhanced value
of property which is common to those inn
mediately on the line of distribution. Nor
does the benefit Of this enterprise accrue in
an equal degree to real and personal proper
ty, especially investments in merchandise.
We are to deal with things as they exist
The basis Of taxation is the real and personal
property upon the tax duplicate; to oexempt
any portion Of this property entirely from
taxation, which would be the case if we lin
it our revenue to special tax upon the prop
erty, or rather real estate, along the line Of
distributing pipes, would be msnifestly uu-
just. How, then, shall we Rpportion This
burthen 70 be approximate the nearest to
equity
Suppose. to illustrate, we levy upon the
general duplicate 20 per cent. Of the entire
revenue to be raised 80 per cent. by levy
of special tax upon the property bounding
and abutting on streets through which dis
tributing pieces are laid, and 30 per cent.
upon those supplied with water by connect
ing with pipes. fTf H i
Assuming as a basis for annual expendi-
Running expenses and repairs. 10000
Necessary to be raised d............ .S4S 900
40 per cent by levy on general
duplicate s---.. -. ..--- -.s1szo0 NJ /
80 per cent. special tax......,....-. H. 400
30 percen water rents. s............. 1440O
The present water rents are about SI6, 600,
therefore this estimate will permit a reduc-
tiOn of l9 per cent. on water tariff, and thus
furnish an incentive to persons on the line
of distributing pipes 70 connect Herewith,
and thus increase revenue.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
q SAMUEL F. LEsTER,
VIZ. B. CASTLE, Trustees.
PETER THATCBER, Jr.
Hawks 4 Bro. have received Harper's