The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-24
NUMBER 1913.

equality with them in this respect 1t will be found
the rates are lower Than in any place named sup
piled by steam power.
The records prove that New Orleans receives
from twenty five to fifty per cent. less revenue for
the came quantity Of water, than any CITY from
which reports have been obtained. For instance.
the revenue received in New Orleans for 1000 gall
Ions of water delivered is seven cents.
In New York nine and one-half cents.
In jersey City, nine and one half cents.
10 Boston, ten and niDe-tenths cents.
In Cincinnati, eleven and one.quarter cents.
In Louisville eleven and one-quarter cents.
In ST. Louis, twelve cents.
This result follows from the excessive quantity
of water used by our people. We have long sum-
mers and warm climate, and our people are
luxurious and profuse ia the use Of water.
The consumption in st. Louis, Cincinnati, and
New York varies from thirty-ise to fifty gallons
daily per capita.
In Boston it is sixty gallons.
In New Orleans ninety gallons.
These facts show conclusively that the amount
assessed for water in New Orleans Is not excess
sive and is not as great in other cities of the
country for the same service. And the results, so
far render it very questionable whether the reve-
nues under these rates will meet the expenditures
required Of the commissioners by the city,,
Then comes the question-and the annoying and
SSs %siss a% A bs ssSnpsSs seem to have
originated in the fact that some parties are
charged more than heretofore. The books OF the
0fice show this to be so. but they also show that
instances are much greater where the charge is
reduced These are the results. not of an increase
of rate, but an equalization of the rate.
handsome dwelling with the Injuries of bath,
water closet, street washer, pantry with hot and
cold water cocks. paying only SIS or $40 last year.
is assessed much higher this year; but many poor
widows and laborers wto paid the same price
last year only pay from IS TO $l2 now.
The large mandatory last year paying 5000
used twenty times as much water as forty small
families who paid the same price. By the present
tariff there parties are brought an equality,
the former paying more, the latter less. Thou
sands Of bills are thus reduced, of which nothing
is heard, but the person who has heretofore re-
ceived bis supply for less than the cost of coal
used in pumping 1t, never fails to complain of any
increase.
One item which must enter into every bill, to a
greater or less extent, until the city assumes its
payment, is never considered in the ordinary dis
cussion OF this question. At least one-third of
the whole supply Of water 10 New Orleans is used
for public purposes: such as eXtinguishiQg fires,
cleaning streets, markets, etc., etc. This be
provided for by the commissioners until otherwise
arranged by the city, and they have endeavored
TO distribute the burden as evenly possible ac-
cording to the benefit conferred: The party
whose insurance is reduced from 800 TO $500 q
year by having supply Of water at his door,
pays pore than the one who only benefits to the
extent Of SO or 500.
1t will be seen the question was surrounded by
difficuties-the duties to be performed were labO.
rious, tedious, complicated, and thsnkless for the
commissioners were expected TO render the service
without money and without price. That they have
been entirely correct in every item would be as
sumlDg infsllibility-but that the principle OF
their action il Just and their system of as low
as possible, no fair minded man, who will trouble
himself TO examine the records and make confess
si0ns, will for moment doubt.
They are now engaged In attaching meters to
several classes of establishments, with view Of
testing their rates Of charge, aud with the inten-
ton Of changing whenever found too high. This
has been extensively done in other cities, aud the
result has ever been to produce the very change
which has called forth this discussion. The men,
bers of the press and the public will soon have
opportunity to witness the operation of these
complicated, ingenious and expensive little tell
tales.
In the meantime, it is but fair that harsh criti-
cism and unjust condemnation should be sus-
nended.
plants were being made, based on public rumor,
and when the parties called for their bills they
found them much below last year.
An idea seems to have entered the public mind,
too. that because the works belong to the city no
charge should be made for water. The result Is
that nearly 50 per cent. less has been paid to the
present time than has been usual in former years
for the same period.
Taos. Fl. SHIELDS,
Chairman Committee on Water Works,
Common Council.
Naw 0rleans Feb o. 1869.