The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-07
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

|
warm TAXES IN wAsHNoToN.-In the
ponrd of Aldermen, on Monday evening, Mr..
Moore asked leave TO have read communi-
cation addressed 10 him by 8. r. Bond, water
registrar, but objection was made, and II was
Withdrawn. The Communication was In ref
crence to certain inquiries and suggestions
Of Mr.. Moore In regard 10 the water rates In
this city, and as II contains good many In.
teresting facts we publish II as an Item OF
news. The communication Is as follows;
have thought that o few statements on
that subject may answer good purpose In
disabusing some minds Of false Impressions
on the subject, and therefore beg leave TO say
that those Of our citizens who think no charge |
should or need be made for the use OF the |
Potomac water, or that the charge should be |
greatly reduced below the present rate, from
the fact that the General Government built |
the aaueduct and laid part OF the mains
through which our supplyis obtained, should
consider
/. That very frequent and sometimes heavy
expenditures arc necessary to repair leakages
in the mains, and that constant oversight
and inspection Of the same Is Of the first I'm
portance TO prevent such leakagss, so far as
possible, and, when they occur, to avoid In
convenience to water-takers by promptly re-
pairing them, and TO prevent the damage TO
streets, sewers aud other public and private
property, which would be a disastrous conse-
quence Of neglecting this Important duty Of
the water department.
Q. That the pipes which were laid at the
time Congress placed this subject under the
control OF the corporation constituted but a
few main arteries, from which the circula-
ton has since been extended, at the expense
of the water fund, In all directions, TO meet
the wants Of our rapidly increasing popula-
ton. The truly magnificent distances"
4 .l. l..,t. a. E,.tI
large extent OF pipe compared with the
number Of residences to be supplied, and,
by consequences, with tho revenue to be de-
rived from water rents; and, In many In
stances mains have been laid almost solely
for the purpose OF protection against FIRE,
where scarcely any returns In tho shape OF
water rents could be anticipated. Then
again fre-hydrants, Of the most approved
and efficient pattern now In use, have been
erected along the lines Of the mains, stops
inserted at the crossings, &C., so rs to afford
proper control Of the water In case leak
age or other contingency, and l have the
satisfaction In this connection to report that
every such flre-hydrant and stop under the
control Of this department Is at this date In
good working order, complete examlna-
ton and repair OF the same from time to
time having been made.
The great CONFERENCE.-The necessity, In
deed-of these constantly extending mains,
and the safeguard against the destruction Of
property afforded by these fire-hydrants, GER
tainly enhance the value Of real estate 10 a
ratio far exceeding the cost OF the same; but
they must be paid for, kept In repair, ex-
tended TO meet new wants, and for this pur-
pose 1t is that water rents are collected, not
as a source Of revenue to the city for general
purposes, nor for any other reason whatso-
ever.
Just here shall be asked II water tax
of seycu-elghts OF one cent per square foot is
not assessed on the lots fronting on the line
of the mains, TO reimburse the water fund
for purchasing and laying the samel Ger
tainlyi but this tax Is payable In five annual
instruments, Cor sooner, at the option of the
owner,) SO thai generally but oae;Hfth of the
mains Is Immediately available TO this fund
to offset the disbursements Of each year,
even supposng the above named rate of as
scssment to meet the expense, which is fire.
quently not the case, owing to the great
width Of our streets, and the large amount
ofproperty belonging to the General Govern
ment, and not liable to be taxed.
Thus becomes necessary to supply this
deficiency for the time being, Us well as to
deiruy the expense OF repairs, &C., above
mentioned, from some source, and what one
so appropriate, so just and equitable In all
respects as moderate charge for the use Of
the wateri
organized, ten years ago, authority was
given by act OF Congress to borrow $3.50, 200,
which the corporate authorities at that time
deemed 1t necessary to do, and which was
accordingly done. The water stock issued
for this loan will soon fall due, but no sur
plus has been accumulated In the water
fund, after paying the interest on the same,
the expenses above indicated out Of the
receipts of this Office, including the water
rents and taxes upon the mains, out Of which
10 redeem the same.
By carefully outstanding the receipts of
this department believe these receipts will
hereafter be adequate TO pay the ordinary
expenses, Including The laying of mains, and
10 create sinking fund, out of which the
water stock may be redeemed within the
next ten years, portion of 1t annually even
ut the present low rates charged for the use
of water; and as the interest on the stock
has been, believe, promptly paid, the loan
can doubtless be renewed on favorable terms.
1t will be necessary, In my opinion, at very
carly period, In order to keep up water
supply equal 10 the increasing consumption
and demand, to make some quite extensive
improvements, such as laying large main
along the northern part Of the city, or build
ing reservoir In that direction, but In such
case some special means must be devised
adequate to the end.
4. 1t thus appearing that some charge for
the use OF water Is necessary, would have
IL properly understood by our citizens how
low this rate Is compared with that paid In
other cities, as will become evident by the
following comparison, made from official
data In my possession;
| will take US basis the lowest annual
rent charged in this city for domestic use,
viz; For house 2 stories high and 10 feet
front, including bath, water closets, and
street washer when used, %. For q similar
house and uses the annual rent In other
cities, as follows, viz: Louisville, $l2 81.
Louis, $50; Cincinnati, sl3; New York, Sl3;
Boston, Sl4. For larger houses, and for
other than domestic purposes, the rates are
In about the same ratio, SO that 1t can be
seen at glance that our citizens have one
commodity aud convenience at q much lower
price than is paid for the same In other
cities. In no city have the officers Of the
water department been less lnq ulsitorial in ex-
Nninlng as to the use Of water, and In none
has more liberal consumption been allowed
without extra charge. This enlency has
been often abused by an extravagant use and
waste of water. which the growing short
ness of our supply demands should be rene
died by some CtlcCtual means"